POKHARA: As many as 229 votes have been cast in the election to the National Assembly or Upper House of the federal parliament in Province 4.

Rajiv Gurung alias Deepak Manange, who was elected to the provincial assembly as a member, however, did not cast his vote in the election held today. The Court has upheld five years jail term verdict to him for his involvement in a murder case.

Of the 230 voters, 229 had cast their votes by 1:00 pm. The Election Commission had to wait for Manange till 3:00 pm as his name was enlisted in the voter’s list. But he remained absent.

Likewise, the counting of votes has started from 4:00 pm in the province.

Of the eight members to be elected for the NA from the province, Prakash Pantha from Nepali Congress has already been elected from the differently-able quota.

According to Chief Returning Officer Dipendra Adhikari, the result might be out by Wednesday midnight.