Congress convention: Bhandari leads for vice-president, Paudel for general secretary as 4,600 votes counted

In the ongoing vote count under the Nepali Congress's 15th General Convention, Dr Chandrakant Bhandari has maintained a wide lead for the open vice-president post, and Pradip Paudel for the general secretary post. Out of a total of 7,043 votes cast, with 4,600 counted so far, Paudel has received 2,657 votes.

Dr Dila Sangraula (Pant) is ahead for the women's general secretary post. For the inclusive-quota vice-president post, with 4,100 votes counted, Binod Chaudhary had taken the lead over Jeevan Pariyar with 1,026 votes. In the race for general secretary, Udaya Shumsher has received 1,333 votes and Sunil Sharma 1,175, a margin of 158 votes between them.

Gururaj Ghimire, one of the key conveners of the special convention and the party's current general secretary, has fallen behind in the general secretary race.

Meanwhile, Pushpa Bhusal has been elected unopposed as vice-president for the women's reserved post. She is the first woman to become vice-president through a general convention and will hold the party's third-ranking position. Since Sunday evening, counting has also begun for the open joint general secretary, women's joint general secretary, and open women's central member posts.