Kathmandu : The Election Commission has said the voter turnout in the by-elections held in three constituencies on Sunday stood at around 60 percent.

As per the preliminary report of the election body, a total of 64 percent of votes were cast in Bara-2, 63 percent in Chitwan-2 and 53 percent in Tanahun-1.

The turnout during last year’s polls in Bara-2 was 63.56 percent, 67.63 percent in Chitwan-2 and 54.03 percent in Tanahun-1, according to the Election Commission.

The ballot boxes of Bara-2 will be transported to the vote counting centre in Kalaiya by 8pm, of Chitwan-2 to Bharatpur by 10pm and of Tanahun-1 to Damauli by 11pm, the Election Commission said, quoting offices of the chief returning officers and local administration.

The voting was held peacefully and enthusiastically, Surya Prasad Aryal, assistant spokesperson for the Election Commission said in the statement.
The commission plans to complete vote counting by Tuesday.

In Tanahun-1, economist Swarnim Wagle, Nepali Congress leader Govinda Bhattarai and UML’s Sarbendra Khanal competed to be elected to the lower house. Wagle quit the Congress to join the newly-emerged Rastriya Swatantra Party last month.

In Chitwan-2, Rastriya Swatantra Party chair Rabi Lamichhane competed against Jit Narayan Shrestha from the Nepali Congress and Ram Prasad Neupane, the district chapter chair of the UML.

In Bara-2, prominent Madhesh leader Upendra Yadav contested against Janamat Party’s Shiv Chandra Kushwaha and UML’s Purushottam Paudel. Rastriya Swatantra Party fielded former DIG Ramesh Kharel in the constituency.