The CPN-UML and the Nepali Congress (NC) have won three and two seats of village council chiefs out of the total six declared so far in Mustang and Manang districts. The other seat went to an independent candidate. 

According to the district election office, independent candidate Raju Bista has been elected as the chairman of Dalome Village Council in Manang district, garnering 755 votes. His closest rival Tenjing Chhering Gurung of the NC obtained 203 votes. 

Bista is the rebel candidate of the NC who filed his nomination after the party refused him a ticket. 

Similarly, UML’s Doka Gurung has been elected vice-chairperson of the village council, defeating NC candidate Kuchan Chhuten Gurung. The NC candidates were elected for the post of ward chairperson from all five wards, along with nine ward members, while the UML captured four positions of ward member. 

NC candidate Subarna Kumar Bista was elected chief of Lomanthang Village Council, securing 603 votes. His nearest rival Indradhara Bista, an independent candidate, obtained 495 votes. The post of vice-chairperson also went to the NC candidate. 

The UML won both the chair and vice-chair in Gharapajhong Village Council of Mustang district. 

In Manang, the UML candidates were elected as chief in two village councils in the district. Kanchha Ghale won the top post in Nesyang and Lokendra Ghale in Chame, according to Election Officer Udbir Nepali. The NC candidate Mingma Chhiring Lama had already been elected unopposed as the chairman of Narphu Village Council. 

Elsewhere in Jumla, CPN (Maoist Centre) candidate Hari Bahadur Bhandari has been elected chairman of Guthichaur Village Council with 1,596 votes against 1,467 of his closest rival UML’s Chhetra Bahadur Bhandari.

Also on Monday, UML candidate Angad Rana was elected from Kaike Village Council ahead of NC’s Hira Bahadur Rokaya. UML candidate Tasi Tundup Gurung was earlier elected unopposed as the chairman of Shey-phoksundo Village Council.