The main opposition CPN-UML and the ruling Nepali Congress were going neck-to-neck as the counting of votes continued on Friday.

Out of 39 municipalities and rural municipalities where the results were out by 8:30 on Friday evening, the UML won in 16 local units followed closely by the NC with wins in 15 local units. The ruling CPN (Maoist Centre) stood at a distant third with seven wins.

The Rastriya Janamorcha also joined the winners’ club with a victory in Pyuthan which has been its traditional bastion.

The vote count had begun in 311 out of the 334 local units the elections for which were held in 35 districts in three provinces on Wednesday. Until Friday evening, the UML was leading in 111 places, followed by the Congress in 110 with the Maoist Centre ahead in 32 local units. 

The reports that came in until Friday evening suggest the UML and the Maoist Centre have suffered a slight loss in the second phase of local elections as compared to their performances in the first phase, while the Congress has seen a growth. 

The UML, which had won 44 percent of the total seats in the first phase, has held lead in 41 percent in the second phase, with the Maoist Centre slipping to 12 percent, down from 16 percent in the first phase.

The Congress has, however, gained lead in 40 percent of the units in the second round, up from 37 in the last election.

Going by the provinces, the main opposition was ahead in Provinces 1 and 5, while the NC was better placed in Province 7, which is also a home to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

The UML has won in five places in Province 1, with the party leading in 61 other local units in party’s Chairman KP Sharma Oli’s home province. The NC has won in four units, while leading in 54 others. 

With one local unit in its bag and lead in 40 other units, the UML was holding the top spot on the podium in Province-5. The NC won two seats and was leading in 31 others in the province.

The Maoist Centre bagged four seats, the highest number of wins in the province, including a sweep of all three seats in Rukum, where the elections were held in the second phase.

The district along with Nawalparasi was split into two with one part in Province 5 and the other in Province 6. 

In Province 7, the NC has nine wins and lead in 28 others. The UML has secured 11 seats and is leading in 14 others.