KATHMANDU: The counting of votes has been interrupted at two places in Jhapa due to exchange of allegations relating to irregularities in ballot papers.
According to the District Election Office, Jhapa, the counting of votes in Shivasatakshi Municipality and Gauriganj Municipality has been stopped.
The dispute over the loss of 54 ballot papers in Shivasatakshi is likely to lead to the change of election officer.
Discussions are underway to send a new officer after Election Officer Rishi Poudel sent a report that he felt uncomfortable working there.
“The counting of votes was halted after a dispute between the two parties over alleged irregularities in the ballot papers,” Tulasi Nepal, head of the district election office in Jhapa, said, adding, “Our report and the report of the election officer of Shivasatakshi are sent to the Election Commission. Discussions are going on about sending a new officer.”
The counting of votes in Shivasatakshi was halted on Sunday night due to the discrepancy between the number of votes cast and the number of votes counted. CPN-Maoist Center has accused the election officer of irregularities.
There are 3,082 votes cast in the ward. However, only 3,028 ballot papers were found during the counting. Similarly, a dispute has arisen in Gauriganj rural municipality Ward No. 1 after the number of votes in the box was found more than the vote actually cast. The number of ballots in the box exceeded 73 votes.
Nepali Congress has also smelt foul in Gauriganj and has protested against it.
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