Ilam by-poll: UML’s Suhang Nembang maintains lead in vote count

CPN (UML) candidate Suhang Nembang is currently leading with a significant margin in the ongoing by-election for the Member of House of Representatives in Ilam constituency-2. As per the latest counts, Nembang has secured a total of 16,944 votes, leading his nearest competitor, Nepali Congress’s Dambar Bahadur Khadka, who has 11,273 votes.

The by-election was called following the demise of Subas Chandra Nembang, the previous MP from this constituency elected in the 2022 elections. The counting process includes votes from various municipalities such as Phakphokthum, Chulachuli, Mangsebung, and Mai, along with five wards of Deumai municipality. The remaining wards of Deumai and votes from Ilam municipality are yet to be counted.

Other candidates in the fray include independent Dakendra Singh Limbu Thegim with 9,044 votes, Milan Limbu of Rastriya Swatantra Party with 2,803 votes, and CPN (Unified Socialist)’s Jit Bahadur Rai securing 325 votes.

A total of 69,287 voters participated in this by-election, highlighting the active engagement of the electorate in this crucial vote. Counting is ongoing and final results are awaited as the community looks forward to concluding this important electoral process.