Himal Press 
(From left) Dr Govinda Bhattarai of NC, Dr Swarnim Wagle of RSP and Sarbendra Khanal of UML.
KATHMANDU: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) candidate Dr Swarnim Wagle has built a significant lead in the Tanahun-1 constituency.
According to the latest counting figures, Wagle has received 22,260 out of 43,071 votes counted so far. Govinda Raj Bhattarai of Nepali Congress is trailing with 12,911 votes, while CPN-UML’s Sarbendra Khanal is third with 6,593 votes.
Analysts had predicted a close contest between Wagle and Bhattarai, who is a common candidate of the ruling coalition, in Tanahun-1. However, Wagle has polled nearly double of what Bhattarai has received.
Wagle, a long-time NC faithful, left the party a few days before the nomination filing date to join RSP. RSP, founded by former television host Rabi Lamichhane about six months before the general elections held on November 20 last year, won 20 seats in the House of Representatives.
Lammichhane leading in Chitwan-2, Yadav in Bara-2
RSP President Rabi Lamichhane is leading in the Chitwan-2 constituency. As per the latest counting results, Lamichhane has received 4,325 votes, while CPN-UML’s Ram Prasad Neupane is trailing with 2,585 votes. NC’s Jit Narayan Shrestha has received 2,205 votes.
In Bara-2, Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) is leading securing 2,600 votes. Shivachandra Prasad Kushbaha of Janamat Party is second with 2,067 votes, while Purushottam Poudel of UMl is third receiving 861 votes.
Yadav is the common candidate of the ruling coalition.
