A mayoral candidate of Biratnagar Sub-metropolitan City, whose canvassing was carried out by Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala, has lost the elections, securing third position.
Binod Aryal, an independent candidate for the post mayor of the sub-metro was supported by Manisha during his election campaign that invited sharp reaction leading to burning of her effigies all over the country.
Aryal secured only 2,700 votes out of the total 34,776 votes cast in the municipality. The winner in the mayoral seat, Pralhad Prasad Shah, a candidate of Rastriya Prajatantra Party led by Home Minister Kamal Thapa, received 7,645 votes. Shah's nearest rival, Yadu Bansha Shah of Nepal Sadbhawana Party, secured 4,771 votes.
Biratnagar sub-metro has over 95,000 voters.
Manisha stayed in Biratnagar for nearly a month asking people to take part in the polls. Students and political parties had called the people to boycott her movies as part of the reaction against her campaign for polls. The Bollywood actress is to leave Nepal on Sunday. nepalnews.com ia Feb 11 06
