KATHMANDU: Sherdhan Rai has been elected as CPN-UML’s Parliamentary Party leader for Province 1 on Friday.

Rai defeated Bhim Acharya by two votes. This has now strengthened his possibility to become Chief Minister of the province.

Rai secured 26 votes and his rival candidate Acharya obtained 24 votes while one vote was invalid. Acharya is Province Coordinator of the party while Rai is the Vice-coordinator.

Out of the total 93 Provincial Assembly seats in Province 1, UML has secured 51 seats.