KATHMANDU: In the ongoing vote count of the Bajhang-1 by-election, Abhishek Singh of the Nepali Congress is currently leading with 9,167 votes, closely followed by UML candidate Daman Bhandari, who has secured 9,084 votes, trailing by a mere 83 votes.

The latest updates indicate a tight race between the two major contenders, with the UML inching closer to the Nepali Congress in the fiercely contested Bajhang Province.

Meanwhile, Maoist candidate Janak Budha has secured the third position with 3,495 votes, while Dil Bahadur Singh of the Unified Socialist Party trails behind in fourth place with 2,328 votes.

As the vote count progresses, the competition intensifies, with both parties vying for victory in this crucial by-election.