Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: Shalikram Ghimire has been elected president of the Lumbini Provincभ Committee of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP).
Six candidates contested the election for the new leadership on Saturday. However, as no candidate secured the required majority of 51% of votes cast, the second round of voting was scheduled for Sunday between the top two candidates.
Shalikram secured the highest number of votes (199) in the first round. Similarly, Gopal Ghimire received 87 votes. A second-round vote was scheduled for Sunday between the two frontrunners. However, Election Officer Gokul Sapkota said the second round of voting became unnecessary after Gopal agreed to accept Shalikram as the leader.
Shalikram earlier served as the vice president of the provincial committee, while Gopal is a member of the party’s Central Organization Department.
In the voting held on late Saturday evening, Ganesh Poudel of Rupandehi finished third with 84 votes. Poudel had contested the 2022 election against UML leader Bishnu Poudel. He also serves as a member of the party’s Central Human Rights Department.
Similarly, Dr Rajkumar Subedi came fourth with 80 votes. He is also the head of RSP Lumbini’s Training Department.
Manju Bhusal, a PR lawmaker from the party, secured fifth place with 71 votes.
