Re-election in Ward 19 of Bharatpur Metropolitan City on Friday saw a 75.58 per cent voter turnout. A total of 2,870 votes were cast. 

Re-polling in Bharatpur-19 was conducted in line with the  Election Commission (EC) decision, which was also upheld by the Supreme Court.

Voting in Bharatpur was earlier held on May 14 as part of the first phase of local elections. But the fracas on the night of May 28 in which CPN (Maoist Centre) representatives had torn 90 ballot papers had led to the halt of vote counting. 

The EC then on June 3 had decided to conduct re-election in Ward 19 as counting of votes of this ward was underway when the ballot papers were torn. The Supreme Court on July 30 had upheld the EC decision of re-election. During the first phase elections, 2,897 votes were cast. “Voting was peaceful. Despite rains, voter turnout was quite encouraging,” said Gambhir Ghimire, assistant election officer. 

More than 1,000 of security personnel were deployed for the voting. 

“Party representatives will be able to see the counting but won’t be allowed to come near the officials during vote counting,” said Ghimire.