TAPLEJUNG:  UML leader Bhupendra Thebe has been elected as the chairman of CPN-UML Tapalejung district.

Thebe was elected as the district chairman by defeating his closest rival Bal Bahadur Samsohang by 56 votes.  Thebe got 329 votes against 273 votes obtained by Samsohang, election officer Dev Raj Menyangbo said.

Similarly, Santosh Khatiwada of Thebe panel was elected as vice chairman with 331 votes. His rival Matrika Prasad Bhattarai obtained 246 votes.

Keshar Kumar Menyangbo was elected as secretary, Mani Shankar (Samsohang panel) and Dipendra Pomu (Thebe panel) were elected as deputy secretaries.