Ilam, Apr 29: UML’s Suhang Nembang has widened the lead with his contender Nepali Congress’ Dambar Bahadur Khadka in the Ilam-2.

According to the latest vote count update, Nembang received 13,900 votes whereas Khadka received 8,914 votes. 

Nembang has maintained a lead of 4,986 votes. The lead was 4,683 votes in the previous update.

Independent candidate Dakendra Singh Thegim gained 8,285 votes and the Rashtriya Swatantra Party’s Milan Limbu gained 1,945 votes. 

A total of 69,287 votes were cast in the constituency which has 115,889 voters. A total of 19 candidates, including 12 political parties and seven independents, are in the fray for the by-election for HoR.