Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) candidates are leading in both Bhaktapur constituencies as vote counting continues.

In Bhaktapur-1, RSP’s Rukesh Ranjit has pulled ahead with 6,884 votes, while Nepal Workers and Peasants Party candidate Prem Suwal trails with 2,133 votes. The constituency has been a stronghold for the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party since 1991.

In Bhaktapur-2, RSP’s Rajiv Khatri has more than doubled the votes of CPN-UML secretary Mahesh Basnet, securing 3,060 votes against Basnet’s 1,573. Nepali Congress candidate Kabir Rana has 168 votes.

Vote counting is ongoing, the Election Commission said.