Kathmandu, March 11

Shekhar Koirala is leading the vote count with 384 votes out of 653 counted so far in the open category of the Nepali Congress’ Central Working Committee members.

Khum Bahadur Khadka is in the second position with 381 votes while Prakash Man Singh has received 377 votes and Pradip Poudel 375 votes.

Similarly, Bimalendra Nidhi received 370, Bal Krishna Khand 362, Purna Bahadur Khadka 359, Ramesh Lekhak 359, Mahesh Acharya 352, Pradip Giri 351, KB Gurung 345, Dhan Raj Gurung 344, Ram Saran Mahat 337, Bishwo Prakash Sharma 337 and Bal Bahadur KC-333 votes.

According to the Election Committee, Sujata Koirala has so far received 331 votes, Shankar Bhandari-324, Prakash Saran Mahat 319, Chandra Bhandari 313, Minendra Rijal 313, Gopal Man Shrestha-309, Narayan Khadka-303, Badri Pande 303, NP Saud-297 and Gyanendra Bahadur Karki 297 votes.

As many as 90 candidates are in fray for 25 seats of CWC members in open category.

On six reserved seats for women, Dila Sangraula is leading with 539 votes and Pushpa Bhusal is following her with 445 votes. Similarly, Kamala Panta received 388, Ambika Basnet 346, Iswori Neupane 344 and Sarita Prasai 334 votes.

Out of 996 votes counted so far in Madhesi male category, Ajay Kumar Chaurasiya is taking the lead with 456 votes while Mahendra Yadav received 408 votes. Ram Krishna Yadav has received 364 votes and Ranjit Karna 361 votes.

In Madhesi women category, out of 996 votes counted so far, Kiran Yadav received 392, Parbati Chaudhari 371 votes and Minakshi Jha 370 votes.

Sita Gurung has been taking the lead in Janajati women category with 362 votes out of 800 total votes counted so far.

In Janajati male category, Bahadur Singh Lama is leading with 242 votes while Chin Kaji Shrestha is following Lama with 237 votes.

China congratulates Deuba

Kathmandu: Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Wu Chuntai on Friday called on newly elected Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and extended best wishes for his successful tenure.

Deuba was elected Nepali Congress president through its recently held 13th National General Convention.

During the meeting, Deuba dwelled on the bilateral relationship between the two neighbours and hoped it would further strengthen in the days to come.

Meanwhile, the Chinese envoy also met newly elected Nepali Congress General Secretary Dr Shashanka Koirala at the latter’s residence in Maharajgunj and congratulated him.

During the meeting, he also recalled the Koirala families’ contribution to strengthening Nepal-China relations, according to NC foreign department member Dinesh Bhattarai.

Dr Koirala is the youngest son of late Prime Minister BP Koirala, who, as a prime minister of Nepal, had visited China in 1960 and played key role in building modern relations with the northern neighbour.