Rastriya Swatantra Party's senior leader Balendra Shah is leading by a wide margin in Jhapa-5, according to the preliminary vote count.

Shah has secured 5,254 votes, far ahead of CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli, who has 1,248 votes, and Nepali Congress leader Mandhara Chimariya, with 185 votes.

Meanwhile, Nepali Communist Party coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal is maintaining a strong lead in Rukum East-1.

Dahal has received 4,398 votes, well ahead of Nepali Congress candidate Kusum Devi Thapa, who has 1,261 votes, and CPN-UML’s Lilamani Gautam, with 907 votes.

Counting is ongoing in both constituencies.