Ilam-2: All-party meeting underway; vote counting shortly

KATHMANDU: The all-party meeting to oversee the vote-counting process for Ilam-2 by-election is underway.

Attended by candidates, political party representatives, and independent candidates, the meeting, as informed by Chief District Officer Indradev Yadav, will mark the precursor to the counting of votes.

Following delays in transporting ballot papers from Saturday’s election, the counting process is set to kick off in the morning hours.

The by-election in Ilam-2 was triggered by the passing of Subash Chandra Nemwang.

Saturday’s voter turnout reached 60 percent among the 115,889 eligible voters, with 69,287 ballots cast, according to Chief Electoral Officer Keshav Prasad Ghimire.

All 149 polling stations’ ballot boxes from 79 polling stations in Ilam have been transported to the headquarters for counting.

The counting venue has been equipped with wire netting to facilitate a controlled environment, with only enumerators permitted inside while representatives observe from outside.

Additionally, 11 CC cameras have been installed for monitoring, with plans to update counting results hourly and display them at the Ilam Chowk Bazar.