BIRATNAGAR, July 3: Vote count   in Pathari  Shanischare Municipality  has been halted after Nepali Congress and Maoist Center accused Returning Officer of rigging vote counting in favor of CPN-UML candidate.

Supporters of Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Center) clashed with the police after the former took to the vote counting place. The row over invalid votes at 11 pm at the vote counting place set up in Pathari Multiple Campus  on Sunday night.                             

CPN-UML candidate Bhanu Rai who garnered 774 votes was declared winner in the race for the chairperson of   Ward-9 on Sunday night . He defeated NC candidate Bir Bahadur Rai who got  767 votes. NC and Maoist Center have accused Returning Officer of rigging vote counting. The clash occurred as the police tried to drive away irate NC and Maoist Center cadres from the vote counting place.        

 
• vote
 
• count
 
• halted
 
• returning
 
• officer
 
• charged
 
• rigging