A Nepal Army helicopter flying to transport ballot boxes from Bajhang's Kanda rural municipality returned without carrying the boxes on Monday following dispute among representatives of political parties at a voting center over who would  board the chopper.

Representatives of both left and democratic alliances at Kanda Secondary School voting center insisted that they board the chopper to transport the ballot boxes. As there was no seat for the representatives, the chopper returned without transporting the boxes from the center.

The six-seater chopper had carried six ballot boxes and two election officer from Dhalaun Secondary School and flown to Kanda Secondary School to transport the boxes from there to the district headquarters.

Kantipur TV journalist Subash Kathayat, who was flying in the chopper to film the collection of boxes, said the ballot boxes from Dhalaun had occupied two seats while he and two other election officers were occupying three other seats. "There was place for three ballot boxes and only one individual in the chopper. But representative from both the parties demanded they too should board the chopper to transport the boxes," said Kathayat.

The helicopter landed at Kanda Secondary School and stayed there for 30 minutes while the pilot tried in vain to persuade that only one person could board the helicopter. Kathayat said the representatives were adamant to board the chopper or walk to the district headquarters to transport the boxes. As the party representatives failed to reach an agreement, the chopper returned without carrying the boxes.

District's Chief Election Officer Purna Prasad Bastola informed preparations are being made to transport the boxes to district headquarters by land. Bastola said it takes two days to reach the district headquarters, some 90 kilometers away from Kanda. Party representatives are discussing when to leave for district headquarters with the boxes, Bastola said.