The vote counting for the election to select the new leadership of the Akhil Revolutionary has been halted due to disputes.
Before starting the vote counting for the University and Special Province categories, the election committee announced that some votes were cast using black ink, which triggered protests from the candidates’ representatives. A red marker pen had been placed at the voting site, but the election committee representatives revealed that votes were also cast using black ink.
Representatives of chairman candidate Vijay Sapkota, Yadav Dhungana, and Ramesh Khadka argued that votes cast with black ink should also be considered valid. On the other hand, representatives from candidates Upadesh Yadav and Hemant Rai opposed this. The dispute escalated late into the night, leading to the suspension of vote counting. Hemant’s representative, Lokendra Airy, left the counting venue in protest.
The faction supporting Upadesh Yadav considers the Special Province, University Province, and Madhesh Province as their stronghold. As a result, Upadesh’s side has been the most vocal in opposing the red-and-black ink controversy.
In the Special Province, 264 votes were cast, while 258 votes were cast in the University Province, and 195 in the Madhesh Province.
Upadesh leads in Madhesh Province
Although trailing in other provinces, Upadesh Yadav secured the highest number of votes, 70, in Madhesh Province. Meanwhile, Vijay Prakash Sapkota received 41 votes, Hemant Rai got 40, and Sudin Paudel managed 1 vote.
Looking at the overall results so far, a close contest is ongoing between Vijay and Hemant. Upadesh is in third place, followed by Sudin Paudel in fourth.
Vijay is considered close to Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda), Hemant to Janardan Sharma, Upadesh to Narayan Kaji Shrestha, and Sudin to Barshaman Pun. They have reportedly formed unofficial panels for the election.
The election was held on Saturday at the Balmiki Campus, Exhibition Road, with the vote counting taking place at the same venue.
