DHARAN, May 18: The ongoing vote counting of various wards of Dharan Metropolitan City-20 has been postponed following a dispute that erupted after 18 ballot papers without the signature of the election officials were found. Of them, 11 ballot papers were found with votes cast to the CPN (Maoist Center)-led panel alone. 

After the counting of votes in the ward, the CPN (Maoist Center) candidate lost against Nepali Congress (NC) candidate by four votes. The CPN (Maoist Center) cadres then began a protest arguing that their candidate would have won the election if those votes were not declared invalid.

The counting of votes in all the wards of the Dharan sub-metropolis has been postponed following the protest of the Maoist cadres. The protest took place even before the election official could make the official announcement of the victory of the NC candidate. 

The agitating Maoist cadres have demanded action against the negligent election officer and counting of the votes again.

 
• Dharan
 
• CPN_(Maoist_Center)
 
• Nepali_Congress