Vote counting has started in Rukum East following the collection of ballot boxes from all polling centres and a morning all-party meeting to commence the process.

The constituency has 34,772 registered voters, of whom 18,664—or roughly 51 percent—cast their ballots.

Key candidates in the race include former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal of the Nepali Communist Party, Lilamani Gautam of CPN-UML, and Kusum Devi Thapa of Nepali Congress. Preliminary results are not yet available, and election officials said the count will continue throughout the day.

Final results will be announced once counting is completed across all polling stations in the constituency.