KASKI: Bidya Bhattarai, candidate for the member to the House of Representatives from the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP), has been elected in Kaski-2.
Bhattarai got 24,394 votes. Her closest rival of Nepali Congress contender Khem Raj Paudel has got 15,991 votes. Dharmaraj Gurung of Samajwadi Party is third with 1,922 votes and Rajani KC of Sajha Party has received 492 votes.
Out of 71,871 eligible voters, 45,546 votes were cast. Some 600 votes were declared void.
Kaski Constituency 2 had been vacant after late Minister Rabindra Adhikari had died in a helicopter crash. Bhattarai is the wife of the late leader. In the previous election, Adhikari had defeated Nepali Congress candidate Debraj Chalise by 8, 546 votes. Adhikari had secured 27, 207 votes while Chalise had obtained 18, 661 votes.
Meanwhile, following the victory of Bhattarai, NC’s contender Poudel congratulated her by garlanding and smearing vermilions on her.
NCP’s leaders and cadres and well-wishers also rejoiced the victory by exchanging happiness and chanting slogans.
Speaking on the occasion, victorious Bhattarai pledged to keep up with the expectations of the voters from late minister Adhikari and the NCP. She also extended her condolence over the death of five workers in a mud mound collapse in Pokhara on Sunday.
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