Vote counting in Rukum West has been temporarily suspended after a discrepancy emerged in votes cast in Chaurjahari Municipality.

Officials noticed 164 more votes than the number of ballots cast while counting began in wards 1, 3, and 5, prompting a dispute.

Assistant Election Officer Mandira Shahi said discussions are underway to resolve the issue.

So far, 20,741 votes have been counted in the district, with Nepali Communist Party (NCP) candidate Gopal Sharma leading with 7,272 votes. He is followed by Janardan Sharma of the Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party with 5,160 votes.

Counting had already concluded in two of the district’s six local levels—Aathbiskot Municipalityand Banfikot Rural Municipality—before the process began in Chaurjahari.