A Nepali Congress (NC) candidate allegedly destroyed a ballot paper during vote count of the municipal executive committee election of Nagarain Municipality, Dhanusha, on Sunday. 

NC candidate from minority group Surya Narayan Sah chewed and destroyed one of the ballot papers that was declared “invalid” by an election officer, said police. Sah was detained following the incident. 

Superintendent of Police Chakra Bahadur Singh said that Sah destroyed the ballot paper just as the election result was about to be announced.

The CPN-UML claimed that the destroyed ballot was “not invalid” and it was in favour of UML candidate Arun Lal Karna. Sah is said to have chewed the ballot paper at a time when the UML demanded the authorities reconfirm validity of the ballots. 

Election officer Danikanta Jha declared Sah victorious. Jha declined repeated requests from the Post for comment.

Meanwhile, UML candidate Karna lodged a written complaint with the poll authority, demanding a repoll.