Nepali Congress comes first in local polls, as the vote counting almost comes to end

Ruling Nepali Congress party has secured first position in the local level elections held in 753 local units across the country by winning 328 municipality chairs or Mayors as counting for five municipalities yet to conclude. The party has also won 292 vice chairs or deputy mayors. Similarly, main opposition CPN-UML has secured third position by winning 202 mayors or chairs and 234 vice chairs or deputy mayors. Likewise, CPN-Maoist Centre has secured third position by winning 121 chairs or mayors and 128 deputy mayors or vice chairs, according to the election commission.

CPN-Unified Socialist has won 30 chairs or mayors while Janata Samajwadi Party has won 20 chairs or mayors securing fourth and fifth positions respectively. While contesting the local level election on May 13 ruling parties Nepali Congress, CPN-Maoist Centre, CPN-Unified Socialist, Janata Samajwadi Party and  Rastriya Janamorcha have forged electoral alliance. The ruling alliance has won altogether 496 Mayors or municipality chairs which comes around 66 percent.

Out of six Metropolitan Cities, Nepali Congress has own two, Lalitpur and Biratnagar, CPN Maoist Centre has won Bharatpur, CPN-Unified Socialist has own Pokhara and Janata Samajwadi Party has own Birgunj Municipality. However, Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayoral post went to independent candidate Balendra Shah, who defeated both Nepali Congress and CPN-UML in the race.

Shah, though born in Kathmandu has his ancestors in Jaleshwor district in Terai, the southern plains of Nepal. This is the first time that any Madhesi origin candidate has own Kathmandu Mayor election. Shah is a popular rapper and also happens to be a structural engineer.

Mayor post in Bharatpur Metropolitan City went to Renu Dahal, daughter of CPN-Maoist Centre chairman Pushpakamal Dahal “Prachanda.”