Kathmandu. HUMLA: Voting has been postponed following a dispute at Sunkhani Primary School polling centre in Namkha rural municipality-6 of Humla. Tension erupted after there was no consensus on making arrangements for voting for the patients in the monastery.

The lamas of Halji Monastery had demanded that about 5-6 patients living inside the monastery should be given the opportunity to vote. They were adamant that the sick should be given a warrant (through representatives) or the ballot box should be taken to the monastery to vote.

However, the controversy arose after the returning officer said that the ballot boxes cannot be taken out or given to the warrant against the rules. The voting process has been halted after the locals and the election team failed to reach an agreement.

The local administration and election teams have started discussions to resolve the problem. The re-polling process will be started only after an agreement is reached. Spokesperson of Karnali Province Police Office, Surkhet, SSP Ram Prakash Shah, confirmed that the voting has been postponed.