After voters complained that they did not find “madal”—the election symbol of the Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party, the ballot papers meant for Nawalparasi were found to have been distributed at the Nagarkot VDC Office polling centre of Changunarayan Municipality.

According to NMKP mayoral candidate for Changunarayan Municipalty Nhuchhe Bhakta Foju, the error was found only after 22 people had cast their votes.

After the polling officer found that the ballots were meant for Nawalparasi, the bundle was sealed. “They came to know about the Election Commission’s blunder only after a voter complained that the election symbol he wanted to vote was nowhere to be found,” Foju said. Despite the flaw, the NMKP agreed to continue with the polling.

Election Officer Rinja Dangol said she was holding an all-party meeting to settle the issue. She would also write to the EC about it.

“If we fail to settle the issue in the all-party meeting, the EC will take up the matter,” Dangol said.

NMKP Secretary Prem Suwal demanded that the EC and the government probe the incident and take action against the official responsible for the mistake.

Meanwhile, the polling officer at Tathali in Changunarayan Munici-pality-9 voted for “tree” even as disabled voters had urged the polling officer to stamp on “madal”. This had disrupted voting briefly. Voting, however, continued after polling officer Arun Ranjit apologised for his mistake.