BAJHANG: In the ongoing vote counting for Ward No. 1 from Chhabispathibhara Rural Municipality of Bajhang, CPN-UML’s Daman Bhandari has surged ahead, taking the initial lead.

Gorakh KC, the Information Officer at the District Election Office, said that Ward No. 1, comprising 3 polling stations, witnessed robust participation in the electoral process.

According to the latest tally, UML’s Bhandari has secured 615 votes so far while Nepali Congress candidate Abhishek Bahadur Singh has garnered 342 votes.

Similarly, CPN Maoist candidate Janak Budha has received 217 votes, and Dil Bahadur Singh, candidate of the Unified Socialist Party has got 81 votes as of now.

Likewise, Rastriya Prajatantra Party candidate Kishor Khadka has got 3 votes.

The by-election, conducted on Saturday, saw a turnout of 30,328 out of 61,748 eligible voters, marking a 49.12 percent overall participation rate.