Vote counting for the first phase of elections started on Thursday evening after the conclusion of the second and final phase of House of Representatives (HoR) and Provincial Assembly (PA) elections. The first phase elections were held in 32 districts on November 26.

The preliminary results showed the left alliance of the CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Centre) was taking lead.

Counting until 10:30pm showed the UML was leading in 17 constituencies while CPN (Maoist Centre) was ahead in 10. The two communist forces are jointly contesting the elections under the left alliance. The Nepali Congress’ lead was in five constituencies while its ally was leading in one constituency.

In Humla, Chakka Bahadur Lama, an independent candidate, was leading. UML Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai maintained a comfortable lead against his rival Keshav Dahal of the NC in Taplejung.

In one of the most interesting battles, Maoist Centre leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha was ahead of Naya Shakti’s Baburam Bhattarai in Gorkha-2. In Sindhupalchok-1, NC leader Mohan Basnet was trailing behind Maoist Centre’s Agni Sapkota, while Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Prajatantrik) Chairman Pashupati Sumsher Rana was ahead of Sher Bahadur Tamang of the UML in Sindhupalchok-2.