BIRATNAGAR: Nagesh Koirala of Nepali Congress (NC) has widened the gap in the mayoral race in Biratnagar Metropolitan City.

He is the candidate from the ruling coalition and is ahead of UML’s Sagar Thapa by 1,934 votes. Nagesh, who has been leading since the initial vote count, has garnered 7,899 votes so far.

Sagar is following Nagesh with 5,965 votes. Other mayoral candidates Umesh Yadav (independent) got 2,587 votes and Pralhad Sah from Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) got 1,470 votes. UML’s Shilpa Nirala Karki has been increasing her lead as the deputy mayor. She is ahead of Amarendra Yadav of the Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) by 2,496 votes.

While Shilpa got 6,814 votes, Amarendra got 4,318 votes. Binda Kumari Luintel (Acharya) of RPP got 1,832 votes and Independent candidate Namita Neupane got 1,520 votes.