Vote Counting Resumes in Dolpa After Stoppage Over Alleged Fraudulent Ballots

Surkhet. Vote counting, which was halted in Dolpa, has resumed. The counting was suspended due to allegations of fraudulent votes being cast.

A dispute arose during the counting of votes for Kaike Rural Municipality Wards — 4 and 5 after five ballot papers were found with counterfoils but lacking the signature of the voting officer and the voter.

Furthermore, the counting was suspended after counterfoils were found for seven ballot papers alone. The counting process became uncertain after CPN-UML, Rastriya Prajatantrik Party, Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party, and an independent candidate protested, alleging that unauthorized individuals had cast votes on those ballots.

Dolpa's Chief District Officer, Junu Hamal Dhakal, stated that the counting resumed after an agreement was reached in an all-party meeting.

 The counting, which had been stopped since 5:30 AM, resumed after an agreement was reached to invalidate the 5 votes found with counterfoils during the counting process.