Independent candidate Mahabir Pun has been elected as the Member of Parliament from Myagdi, clinching a dominant victory with 22,850 votes, according to the Election Commission.

Pun defeated his nearest rival, Hari Krishna Shrestha of the CPN-UML, who secured 7,919 votes—a staggering margin of nearly 15,000. Other candidates trailed significantly, with Nepali Congress’ Karna Bahadur Bhandari receiving 6,884 votes and Arjun Thapa of the Nepali Communist Party netting 3,529. Pun was backed by the Rastriya Swatantra Party.

Pun, recently served as the Minister for Education, Science, and Technology in the interim cabinet, is a Magsaysay Laureate. In 2007, Pun received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership for his innovative application of wireless computer technology in Nepal.