CHITWAN, August 4: The reelection is taking place in ward no. 19 of Bharatpur Metropolitan City after two and half months. The election had been cancelled after the CPN (Maoist Center) poll representatives torn off some ballot papers.

There has been an enthusiastic participation in the reelection. Around 70 percent of votes were cast as of 2 pm today, according to Gambhir Ghimire, assistant election officer of Bharatpur.

Even the elderly are taking part in the reelection. The results of the ward is crucial to elect the mayor of BMC.

The people are curiously watching on the reelection of BMC-19 as former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s daughter Renu Dahal from CPN (Maoist Center) in alliance with Nepali Congress and Devi Prasad Gyawali representing CPN-UML are contesting the poll.

There are three polling stations in ward no. 19 with 3, 797 voters. The election had been held under the first phase of local level elections on May 14. During the period, as many as 2,897 votes had been cast.

UML mayoral candidate Gyawali is ahead of Dahal. To turn the table in her favor, Dahal has to get votes from all the NC and Maoist Center supporters.

Some ballot papers were torn off while the vote counting was underway on May 28. Police had arrested Maoist Center poll representatives Drona Babu Siwakoti and Madhu Neupane.

UML had demanded resumption of vote counting but Maoist Center was in favor of reelections. Election Commission (EC) decided to hold reelections. A writ was filed at the Supreme Court. The reelection is taking place today after the SC issued verdict in favor of EC’s decision on last Sunday.

 
• reelections
 
• bharatpur metropolitan city
 
• ward 19
 
• maoist center
 
• cpn-uml