Laxmi Mahato of the CPN-UML has emerged victorious from Mahottari-1 defeating Girirajmani Pokharel, deputy general secretary of the CPN (Maoist Centre).

According to the Election Commission, Mahato received 23,402 votes to defeat Pokharel by a margin of 1,030 votes as per the final results.

Pokharel, a common candidate of the Congress-led alliance, managed to get 22,372 votes.

Independent candidate Poshan Bahadur Thapa bagged 7,812 votes.

Mahato began his political journey in 2047 BS as a member of a student wing of the Nepali Congress.

Pokharel was elected as a member of the Constituent Assembly twice from Mahottari-1. He was also elected in the 2017 polls from the same constituency. He has served as the Minister for Health for three terms, and as a Minister for Education, Science and Technology.