KATHMANDU: Independent mayoral candidate Balendra Shah is certain to become the mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC).

With about 19,000 votes remaining to be counted, Balen is ahead of Sirjana Singh by about 20,000 votes. He has received 55,747 votes.

Nepali Congress (NC) candidate Sirjana Singh is in second place with 35,371 votes.

Similarly, CPN-UML candidate Keshav Sthapit is trailing behind with 34,626 votes.