KATHMANDU: Counting of votes in Chitwan’s Bharatpur metropolis has been halted due to a dispute over swastika stamp and invalidation of ballots.

CPN-UML youth leader Asmin Ghimire said that there was a dispute while counting votes after ballot papers with slightly spilled ink over the sun symbol were discarded by saying invalid.

“We objected when a valid ballot was declared invalid later,” Ghimire said. “The role of the chief election officer and the counting staff is questionable.”

He said that UML representatives would stay at the counting until the issue is resolved.

UML District Chairman Ram Prasad Neupane is said to be discussing the matter with Chief Election Officer.