CHITWAN: CPN-UML, Chitwan, has demanded resumption of vote counting obstructed since Sunday mid-night.

Organising a press conference here today, the CPN-UML, Chitwan, demanded resumption of vote counting immediately.

The vote counting was obstructed after ballot papers were torn by CPN Maoist Centre cadres.

On the occasion, CPN-UML, Chitwan Chairman Krishna Bhakta Pokharel demanded action against CPN Maoist Centre cadres—Dorna Babu Siwakoti, Madhu Neupane and Dilip Poudel, saying that they tore the ballot papers under the direction of CPN Maoist Centre.

A press release issued on the occasion stated that the ballot papers were torn at a time when vote counting of ward no. 19 of Bharatpur Metropolitan City was underway in a peaceful manner.

UML has also protested the move of election officer, saying that although the party asked the election officers to inform the truth and reality of the incident immediately through media and to carry out vote counting of remaining ballot papers after keeping the torn ballot papers separately, the election officers postponed the vote counting without heeding the request.

Moreover, the party has refuted the rumour spread by some people close to CPN Maoist Centre on social networking sites that CPN-UML had torn the ballot papers.

Chairman Pokharel said that re-voting was not possible. Out of 29 wards in Bharatpur Metropolitan City, vote counting of 27 wards has already been completed. Vote count of ward no. 20 still remains.

UML's Devi Prasad Gyawali and Renu Dahal from the alliance of CPN Maoist Centre and NC are in race for Mayoral post in Bhatarpur Metropolitan City.

Gyawali is leading the race in the vote counting so far while Dahal is close behind him.