Independent, rebel candidates register strong presence; ruling-alliance ahead in most metros, sub-metros

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU, MAY 15The ruling-alliance is leading in most of the metropolises and sub-metropolises at the end of 24
hours since the vote count for local level elections began.
NC starts taking action against rebel candidates
Ruling alliance agree on sharing seats
Meanwhile, some independent and rebel candidates have emerged as big players in these cities,
challenging the domain of the old-guards in the early stages. Independent candidate Balen Shah is leading the vote tally,
so far, in the capital city, leaving behind bigwigs from CPN-UML and Nepali Congress
He has garnered 1053 votes so far as against 838 and 636 votes of Keshav Sthapit and Sirjana Shrestha, respectively.Likewise, independent
candidates in Dhangadhi sub-metro and Janakpur sub-metro - Gopi Hamal and Manoj Kumar Sah - are leading the race
Sah is the rebel candidate of Nepali Congress in Janakpur.Meanwhile, the ruling-alliance is ahead in vote count of majority of these big
cities.​​​​​​Who is ahead in the race where?Metropolitan Cities#13;Kathmandu: Independent, Balen Shah (UML trailing)Lalitpur:
Nepali Congress (alliance), Chiri Babu Maharjan (UML trailing).Pokhara: CPN - United Socialist (alliance), Dhanaraj Acharya (UML
ttrailing Bharatpur: CPN-Maoist Centre (alliance), Renu Dahal (UML trailing)Biratnagar: Nepali Congress (alliance), Nagesh Koirala (UML
trailing)Birginj: Janata Samajwadi Party, Rajesh Man Singh (UML trailing)Sub-metropolitan Cities Hetauda: CPN-UML, Ananta Prasad Paudel -
CPN-US trailingJanakpur: Independent candidate Manoj Kumar Sah - UML trailingButwal: Nepali Congress (alliance), Khelraj Pandey - RPP
trailingNepalgunj: Nepali Congress (alliance), Prashanta Bishta - UML trailingItahari: Nepali Congress (alliance), Hem Karna Pokhrel - UML
trailing Jitpursimara: CPN- Maoist Centre (alliance), Rajan Paudel - UML trailingDharan: Nepali Congress (alliance), Kishor Rai -
Independent candidate trailingDhangadhi: Independent candidate, Gopal Hamal (UML trailing)Ghorahi: CPN- Maoist Centre (alliance), Hemraj
Sharma Pokhrel (UML trailing)Kalaiya: CPN-UML, Binod Prasad Sah - Nepali Congress trailing
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com