KATHMANDU: The Nepal Bar Association, that held an election on Saturday for its leadership, today began counting votes. Initial results showed the democratic panel led by Prem Bahadur Khadka was taking the lead.

The initial results showed that Khadka had garnered 932 votes, while his rival candidate Harikrishna Karki of the progressive panel had secured 629 votes. Ram Nath Mainali of the revolutionary panel had secured 215 votes. Independent candidates Matrika Niroula secured four votes, Ram Kumar Yadav secured 30, while Madan Mohan Choudhari secured four votes.

Around one-third votes of the total 5921 have been counted so far.

The democratic panel's candidate has been taking the lead for the post of general secretary. The panel's Bijaya Mishra has secured 918 votes, while progressive panel's Hari Phuyal obtained 668 votes, revolutionary panel's Shyamji Pradhan has got 189 and independent candidate Sushma Baskota Baral has secured 29 votes.

For the post of five vice-presidents of the five development regions, the democratic panel's candidate, including Surendra Mahato and Gopal Pandey Alchhi, are taking the lead.

For the post of members, Yogendra Bahadur Adhikari, Gopal Ghimire, Kiran Kumari Gupta Satis Kumar Gupta, Shanta Shedain Sapkota, Harka Rawal, Padam Prasad Shrestha and Padam Rokka have been taking the lead.

According to the NBA election committee, the final results may be had by Thursday.