Deuba leading with 1640 votes, Poudel has received 1140 votes. 

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The vote count of the run-off poll for the election of Nepali Congress President has been temporarily halted after samples of the ballot paper was found in ballot box.

NC representatives voting in the election were found marking in the sample presidential ballot papers and dropping it in the ballot box.

According to NC Treasury candidate Umakanta Chaudhari, 14 such ballot papers were found in the ballot box. 3140 ballot papers were found although a total of 3120 votes were cast,in the poll.

“The sample papers will be dismissed and vote count will resume,” said Chaudhary.

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Vote count of run-off poll begins

The vote count began at City Hall in Kathmandu. A total of 3120 votes have been cast. The vote count is taking at four places in the City Hall.

Coordinator of Nepali Congress (NC) election committee, Radhe Shyam Adhikari said the result of party’s presidential election would be out by 11 PM today.

Altogether 3,120 members cast their votes in today’s run-off election.

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Run-off voting concludes

The run-off voting for the election of Nepali Congress President concluded at 7 PM on Sunday. A total of 3120 votes have been cast.

The runoff voting for the top post of Nepali Congress began from 3 pm on Sunday.

According to Election committee member Khamma Bahadur Khati, the vote counting would begin from 8 pm. 

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NC Presidential contest entered a runoff voting stage as all the three leaders—Ram Chandra Poudel,  Sher Bahadur Deuba and Krishna Prasad Sitaula—failed to secure above 50 percent of the votes required to win.

Sher Bahadur Deuba lead the three-way contest with 1564 votes—11 votes short of the required 1575 votes, Ram Chandra Poudel garnered 1160 and Sitaula received 324 votes.

The top two candidates were qualified for the second round of voting as none of the candidates secured above 50 percent of the votes required to win.

NC’s party statute has a provision that states a candidate has to secure a majority to win the top party post.

With Krishna Prasad Sitaula opting to pull out of the race, the two candidates have to win at least 1,575 votes to secure majority.

Deuba's victory in the first round of voting was most likely stolen by 107 invalid votes.