UML's Sunita Dongol leading deputy mayor's race

KATHMANDU, MAY 14

Independent candidate Balendra 'Balen' Shah has taken an early lead in the preliminary stages of counting of votes for the Mayoral election of Kathmandu Metropolitan City.

At the end of counting of around 700 votes, he has garnered 216 votes, according to a representative present at the counting booth in Rastriya Sabhagriha.

Also contesting the elections are political heavy weights Srijana Shrestha from Nepali Congress and Keshav Sthapit from CPN-UML.

NC Candidate Shrestha is backed by the ruling alliance. After trailing behind Balen for a while, at present she is at the third spot with 141 votes.

UML had fielded Sthapit, a #MeToo accused -- who was removed as a Minister of Bagmati Province Government following the allegations -- as its candidate for the electoral battle in the capital. Recently, Sthapit had abused a woman publicly on TV, aggrevated by her questions during a mayoral debate. He is currently trailing with 179 votes.

Other prime contenders - Independent candidate Suman Sayami and Rastriya Prajatantra Party's Madan Das Shrestha - have both secured less than 50 votes till now.

The local level election in KMC, and rest of the country, were held on May 13.

UML's Dongol ahead in deputy mayor's race

CPN-UML's candidate for KMC Deputy Mayor Sunita Dongol is leading in the vote count, so far. Trailing behind her is ruling alliance backed CPN- Unified Socialist's candidate Rameshwar Shrestha.

Last updated at 3:30 pm