Jhapa, July 4

The winner of Kamal Rural Municipality in Jhapa was declared through lucky-draw after the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML candidates received equal votes.

This is the first time the chairperson of a rural municipality was declared through lucky draw. Earlier, ward chairs and members were declared winners through lucky-draw.

The fortunate candidate who became winner through lucky-draw from the rural municipality in Constituency No 1 was UML’s Menuka Kafle. Nepali Congress’ candidate Hukum Singh Rai lost after the draw.

According to the poll result, Kafle and Rai received 8,275 votes each. District Election Office had sought suggestion from the Election Commission as this was the first

case, though ward chairs were declared winners through lucky-draw earlier.

Returning Officer Prem Prasad Luitel said the Election Commission had directed to declare the winner through lucky draw.

According to Luitel, two chits of paper were pieced for the lucky-draw. One lottery chit had 0 and the next had the number 1. After winning the toss, Hukum picked the lottery chit first. Then Menuka picked the other one and both of them opened the lucky-draw chits together. Luck was in Menuka’s favour.

With this decision, Kafle has become the first woman to win the chief post in Province 1. UML has won the vice-chair post in the same  rural municipality. Benu Siwakoti was elected vice-chair securing 9,418 votes.

UML had fielded two women for the chief posts in Jhapa. Of them, Manju Sitaula was defeated in Haldibari Rural Municipality.