UML, NC candidates neck to neck in Ilam, Bajhang

By Prem Adhikari,Pashupatinagar (Ilam) Apr. 29: Initial vote counting in Ilam-2 has shown a tough competition between UML candidate Suhang Nembang and NC candidate Dambar Khadka.

As the counting that began Sunday afternoon is moving at a snail's pace, only the votes of six wards of Fakfakthum were counted by 9:30 pm and UML candidate was leading while Khadka of NC was trailing behind. 

Other candidates were far behind the two.   A total of 19 candidates are in fray in Ilam. 

The votes of Mangsebung and Chulachuli rural municipalities, Mai, Deumai and Ilam municipalities are yet to be counted. 

UML district secretary Umesh Gurung said that vote counting was too slow.    

Of the 115, 889 voters, 69,287 cast their votes in the by-election to the House of Representatives held in Ilam-2 constituency on Saturday.

Likewise, in Bajhang, UML candidate Daman Bahadur Bhandari was leading the counting as of Sunday night while NC candidate Abhishek Singh is trailing behind him.