Oli secured 98 votes while Chairman Khanal secured 75 votes on his way to become the first PP leader of the party elected through voting.

Earlier in the day, the party had decided to go for voting to elect the PP leader after a meeting between the top brass leaders failed to agree on a unanimous leader for the post.

Moments after the result was announced, Chairman Khanal congratulated Oli for the victory. Speaking to media persons after his victory, leader Oli said that he along with Chairman Khanal would move ahead together to strengthen UML's role in national politics.

"We will take ahead both party and parliamentary party in a unified and effective manner," said Oli, adding that nobody would be biased for their choice of vote during the PP election.

Khanal remarked that Oli's victory was a triumph of UML, democracy and Nepali people. "We exercised democratic practice," said Khanal," Party will move ahead in a more prosperous manner."