Police fire 9 rounds of bullets in the air as NC, UML cadres clash in Bajura
A clash broke out between the cadres of Nepali Congress and CPN-UML at the polling station in Dhulachaur of Himali Rural Municipality, Bajura.
DSP Chaturbhuj Ojha of the District Police Office, Bajura said that the clash ensued after a ballot box with the broken seal was brought to the vote counting venue.
The Nepali Congress cadres pelted stones at the UML cadres after the latter vandalized the office demanding that the concerned authority should look into the incident.
It has been learnt that police fired nine rounds of bullets in the air to take the situation under control.
NC faces defeat in PM Deuba’s ward
The Nepali Congress (BP) has won the elections in the ward of Nepali Congress President and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.
Naresh Bhandari has been elected as the chairman of Ganyapadhuda Rural Municipality-1.
Congress (BP) and CPN-UML had forged an electoral alliance in the rural municipality.
Bhandari won the polls with a margin of 35 votes.
Prime Minister Deuba had cast his vote from Asigram Higher Secondary School in Ruwakhola.
UML candidate Subedi leading vote count in Bharatpur, Dahal trailing behind
CPN-UML candidate Bijay Subedi is leading the vote count in Bharatpur Metropolitan City.
Out of 150 votes counted so far, Subedi has obtained 66 votes while CPN (Maoist Centre's Renu Dahal and independent candidate Jagannath Paudel received 51 and 13 votes respectively.
Independent candidate Balen Shah ahead with 95 votes in Kathmandu Metropolitan City
Independent mayoral candidate Balen Shah is leading the vote count in Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
Out of 300 votes counted so far, Shah has garnered 95 votes followed by coalition candidate Srijana Singh 76.
Similarly, CPN-UML candidate Keshav Sthapit received 41 votes.
Nepal polls: Nepali Congress takes early lead in the vote count
The ruling Nepali Congress has established an early lead in the voting counting of local-level governments. NC is taking the lead in the 160 local governments, while CPN-UML is taking a lead in around 100 places. CPN(Maoist Center) has taken lead in 60 places. CPN(Unified Socialist), a member of the ruling coalition is in a distant fourth position. In many municipalities, rebel candidates for the Nepal Congress are taking lead with taking leads in 10 places.
Vote counting begins in Kathmandu Metropolitan City
The vote counting of mayoral elections in the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has begun.
Though the Election Commission had planned to start the counting from late Friday night, it was delayed due to the dispute among the candidates.
Vote counting of Kathmandu Metropolitan City started at around 10 am in City Hall.
Nepali Congress leader Srijana Singh, CPN-UML leader Keshav Sthapit and Samiksha Baskota from Bibeksheel Sajha Party are vying for the post of mayor.
Balen Shah is an independent candidate.
Nepal polls: Preliminary counting shows neck and neck competition between NC and UML
Voting counting for May 13 local elections held in 753 local governments has begun across the country. The preliminary vote counting has shown neck and neck competition between Nepali Congress and CPN-UML.
In some places including Kathmandu Metropolitan City, independent candidates have taken lead over party candidates. In some places, preliminary counting shows five-party electoral alliance has not worked well.
In 2017, CPN-UML has emerged as the largest party in the local elections closely followed by Nepali Congress, and CPN(Maoist) secured a distant third position. This time too, it seems two parties will compete tough to become the first.
India bans wheat exports with immediate effect
In a bid to control the rising domestic prices, India has banned wheat exports with immediate effects, PTI reports. Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in a notification dated May 13 says "the export policy of wheat … is prohibited with immediate effect…,"
It also clarified that wheat exports will be allowed on the basis of permission granted by the Government of India to other countries to meet their food security needs and based on the request of their governments.