Scribes demonstrate after being denied update on Bharatpur Metropolis polls

KATHMANDU, May 18: Media persons have demonstrated in Bharatpur Metropolitan City after they were denied vote counting updates on mayoral and deputy mayoral elections.

According to our Chitwan district reporter Ramesh Kumar Paudel, elections officials involved in counting votes have not provided election updates since 9 am today.

When asked about the cause behind the delay on updates, the election officials have attributed the delay to the row over the election results of Bharatpur Metropolitan City-4. 

According to  Paudel, the dispute arose after the NC ward No. 4 candidate lost the election to UML candidate Hari Prasad Sharma by seven votes.

The vote counting is being delayed due to the row over the election updates, according to returning officials. However, the results have not been formally declared.  

Sharma has won the ward elections securing 1,720 votes while his rival NC’s candidate got 1,713 votes.

CPN-UML mayoral candidate Devi Gyawali is leading Maoist Center’s candidate Renu Dahal with a wide margin in the race for mayor. According to the last election updates, Gyawali has secured 7, 374 votes while Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s daughter Renu  Dahal is trailing way behind with  5,734 votes.

Similarly, UML candidate for deputy mayor Dibhya Sharma has secured 6,685 votes while her closest rival Parbati Shah of NC has got 6,246 votes.

General people are watching Bharatpur Metropolis elections curiously as NC and Maoist Center are contesting elections by forging an electoral alliance.  

The vote counting is underway at Covered Hall in Bharatpur Metropolis.