DHARAN: Nepali Congress (NC) is taking lead with 2,605 votes  in the vote-count for the by-elections in Dharan Sub-metropolitan City.

Of the latest vote-count update, Tilak Rai of Nepali Congress has obtained 25, 998 votes while his closest rival of Nepal Communist Party Prakash Rai has secured 23,393 votes.

The vote counting of only two wards out of 20 is remaining. The counting is underway.

NC is likely to win the elections in Dharan Sub-metropolis this time. Earlier, then CPN-UML had won the elections.

The post of mayor in Dharan Sub-metropolis had fallen vacant following the demise of Tara Subba.