ILAM: Vote counting for the Ilam 2 by-election held on Saturday has started.

District Election Officer Devicharan Phuyal stated that vote counting is underway at two venues in Gautam Buddha Conference Center situated in Ilam Municipality-2.

The tallying process has initiated from Phakphokthum Rural Municipality-1.

In this vote counting exercise, representatives from only Ilam Constituency-2 have been designated to oversee the process.

A total of 69,287 votes were cast out of 1,15,889 eligible voters, reflecting a 60 percent turnout in the Ilam by-election.

The by-election featured 19 candidates, comprising 12 political party nominees and seven independent contenders.

The by-election was held following the demise of Subash Chandra Nembang, a member of the House of Representatives.