The CPN (Maoist Centre) and the Nepali Congress (NC) on Sunday organised a victory rally in Bharatpur Metropolitan City following the triumph of their mayor and deputy mayor candidates in the re-election held on Friday.

Renu Dahal of CPN (Maoist Centre) defeated CPN-UML’s Devi Gyawali by 203 votes to become the mayor of Bharatpur Metropolitan City.

NC candidate Parbati Shah defeated UML’s Dibya Sharma by 7,672 votes to clinch the post of deputy mayor. 

The Maoist Centre and the NC had forged an electoral alliance in Bharatpur.

The re-election was conducted at Bharatpur-19 after the previous election held on May 14 ran into a controversy  when the Maoist supporters allegedly stormed the vote count venue and torn 90 ballot papers on the night of May 28.

UML elected reps boycott swearing-in ceremony

Meanwhile, the elected representatives of CPN-UML in Bharatpur Metropolitan City boycotted the swearing-in ceremony held on Sunday.

None of the elected representatives from the main opposition party were present at the ceremony held at the conference hall of the Chitwan District Coordination Council. 

“We will not take part in the swearing-in ceremony with the ones who tore the ballot papers, because it will be a mockery of democracy,” said UML Chitwan Chairman Krishna Bhakta Pokharel. 

He added that a separate oath-taking ceremony would be held for the elected officials from the UML on Monday.