KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress leader Gururaj Ghimire who faced a defeat in the presidency election in Province 1 has demanded a recount of votes.

Ghimire has lost the election by a slim margin of two votes to Uddhav Thapa of Krishna Prasad Sitaula faction.

Dissatisfied with the vote count results, Ghimire has filed applications in the provincial and central election committees seeking the second count of votes.

Thapa secured 844 votes to become the president of Pradesh 1 while Ghimire obtained 842 votes.

Thapa from the Sitaula faction had been backed by the establishment side.

Ghimire had been backed by Poudel-Koirala group.