KATHMANDU, Dec 15: As vote counts of the Proportional Representation system of the federal parliament election has reached final stage, only five parties are likely to cross three percent threshold to qualify for the representation in the federal parliament.

Vote count of 73 districts has been completed, according to the Election Commission

As of Friday afternoon, of the 96, 36,276 votes counted, CPN-UML is leading with 3014404 votes, which is 33.75 percent of the total votes cast under PR category. Nepali Congress has received 2941293 (32.93%) votes while CPN (Maoist Center) has 1211996 votes (13.57%). Beside the top three parties, Rastriya Janata Party Nepal and Federal Socialist Forum Nepal are the other parties to have crossed three percent. FSFN has obtained 427098 votes, which is 4.78 percent and RJPN has secured 403005 votes (4.51%).

Vote counting is underway in Sunsari-2 and 3, Sarlahi-2 and 3, Surkhet-1 and Kailali-1, and is expected to conclude by Friday evening, according to the EC spokesperson Nawaraj Dhakal.

The new election law makes it mandatory for a political party to secure at least one seat under the first-past-the-post election and three percent of votes to qualify as a national party. If a party fails to clear the threshold, it will be denied representation at the federal parliament.

The other parties that have not crossed three percent threshold are Bibeksheel Sajha: 200860 votes (2.25%), Rastriya Janata Party: 189910 votes (2.13%), Naya Shakti: 78283 (0.88%), RPP –D: 84875 (0.95%) and Nepal Workers and Peasants Party: 52927 votes (0.59%).

The outgoing parliament has 31 political parties; and it seems that there will be a drastic reduction in the number of national political parties.

KATHMANDU, Dec 13: The percentage of invalid votes in the first-past-the-post (FPTP) category of the election to the member of House of Representatives is 5.18 on an average throughout the country.

Speaking at a face-to-face program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Wednesday, Chief Election Commissioner Dr Ayodhee Prasad Yadav said that the number of invalid votes was more in the districts of the central Tarai-Madhes compared to the number of invalid votes in the districts of the Himali (mountainous) region.

According to him, Manang has recorded the lowest number of invalid votes at 0.37 per cent whereas the number of invalid votes in nearly 9 per cent in the districts of Province 2.

He said the number of invalid votes in the districts of the Kathmandu Valley is less than 3.81 per cent.

The Election Commission had estimated that the number of invalid votes would be less than 5 per cent. The percentage of invalid votes in the Constituent Assembly elections of 2064 BS was 5.15 and the same in the second Constituent Assembly election of 2070 BS was 4.94.

The Chief Election Commissioner said that the final results of the proportional representation elections for all the constituencies would be announced within three days from today. He also said that the Election Commission has already started drafting the regulations for the National Assembly election.

KATHMANDU, Dec 13: Vote counting of the House of Representatives election under the first-past-the-post category has concluded on Wednesday.

As per the final FPTP result, CPN-UML has emerged as the largest party securing victory in 80 federal constituencies and 168 provincial constituencies. Likewise, CPN (Maoist Center) has become the second largest party while Nepali Congress, which was the largest in 2013 Constituency Assembly elections, has settled for third.

Maoist Center has emerged victorious in 36 federal constituencies and 73 federal constituencies. Nepali Congress has won in 23 federal constituencies and 41 provincial constituencies.

Similarly, Rastriya Janata Party Nepal has secured win in 11 federal constituencies and 16 provincial constituencies, while Federal Socialist Forum Nepal in 10 federal constituencies and 24 provincial constituencies.

Other Results:

Rastriya Prajatantra Party: 1 federal constituency

Nepal Workers and Peasants Party: 1 federal constituency 1 provincial constituency

Naya Shakti: 1 federal constituency and 2 provincial constituencies

Janamorcha: 1 federal constituency and 2 provincial constituencies

Independent: 1 federal constituency

KATHMANDU, Nov 13: Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN) on Monday unveiled its election manifesto in view of the upcoming parliamentary and province assembly elections.

Unveiling the manifesto organizing a program at the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Monday, FSFN revealed its plans and policies for the next five years.

The party, in its manifesto, has primarily focused on constitution amendment/rewriting stating that Nepal’s constitution was discriminating.

The party has also advocated for the directly elected executive president in central and executive head in all levels.

The manifesto also includes: Federalism with identity, proportional inclusion, autonomous region, conserved area and non-geographical special area for the indigenous group and to establish a prestigious identity for Dalit and marginalized groups.

FSFN has the plan to make the country self-reliant in energy, develop 50 % of the Gross Domestic Product as stable capital, attain double digit economic growth, double the per capita income and liberate the people below poverty line from poverty trap within the next five years.

For full text for the FSFN election manifesto, Click here

CHITWAN, Nov 12: CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that stable government and prosperous country should be built to fulfill the dreams of leader late Girija Prasad Koirala.

Addressing an election gathering organized at Mangalpur of Chitwan constituency no 3 today, Chairman Dahal argued that he has the responsibility to fulfill the dream of late Koirala as he and late Koirala had signed the Comprehensive Peace Accord. “I urge the Nepali Congress cadres to vote me for nation building remembering Girija Prasad Koirala,” he said.

Saying the stable government of the communists would bring drastic change in the country, the CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman expressed commitment to bring changes in Chitwan within five years. He, however, suggested the NC to move ahead by forging greater democratic unity.

Chairman Dahal said that he is contesting in the election to the House of Representatives from Chitwan to make Chitwan a model of the country through development and prosperity. RSS

KATHMANDU, Nov 12: Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the victory of the NC was a must in the coming elections for institutional development of democracy.

Speaking at program to welcome new entrants from Nepal Taekwando Association to the NC here on Sunday, he said human rights, press freedom and individual freedom can be secured only in a democracy. And only the congress can safeguard democracy.

He also said that the coming election was a referendum between the choice of democracy and communist rule. A communist rule will bring an end to democracy.
At the programme 361 athletes from across the country including founder of the taekwando association Dipraj Gurung and general secretary Kamal Raj Gurung joined the NC. They were welcomed to the party by NC President Deuba with tika and garlands. RSS

KANCHANPUR, Nov 12: The Nepali Congress (NC) has forged an electoral alliance with the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Democratic) (RPP-D) in Kanchanpur.

As per the agreement, both the RPP and RPP-D will support all NC’s election candidates in Kanchanpur district (three for the House of Representatives polls, and six for the State Assemblies).

The coalition formation was announced at a joint press conference held on Saturday evening in Bhimdattanagar in Kanchanpur.

“We have formed a joint election coordination committee, and are launching joint election campaign. An election mobilization committee will also be formed in the district,” said RPP’s district Chairman Purna Bahadur Chand at the event.

Likewise, NC central member and former minister Ramesh Lekhak said they started a new practice by forging an electoral alliance with the RPP and RPP-D. RSS

KATHMANDU, Nov 11: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Dr Ayodhee Prasad Yadav has asked all the political parties, leaders, security bodies and voters to make positive efforts from their side to make the upcoming parliamentary and province assembly election successful. The twin elections are scheduled for November 26 and December 7.

Speaking at an interaction program organized by the Reporters’ Club Nepal on Saturday, Yadav said, “The government has assured of conducting elections in free, fair and peaceful environment. But unless we realize the need of peaceful election environment and make positive efforts for the same, free, fail and peaceful election can be guaranteed.”

Yadav also requested all the political parties to publicize their election campaign peacefully and completely abiding by the election code of conduct and law.

He added, “Only peaceful campaigning will make the voters feel safe and secure and will become enthusiastic about the election; and will respect the political parties.”

CEC Yadav also expressed his worries over the bomb attacks on the vehicles of CPN (Maoist Center) leader Barshaman Pun and Home Minister Janardan Sharma during their election publicity campaign and urged the government to tighten security measures so that no such unpleasant incidents would be repeated again.

“I heard about the bomb attacks on the candidates. I want to request the government to focus on the safety of the candidates campaigning for the election. I hope such unpleasant incidents do not repeat again in any part of the country.”

“It is everyone’s duty to make election environment peaceful so that all the candidates could enjoy their election publicity rights,” he added.

“I also want to request all the news media to help in making election environment peaceful,” he furthered.

On the occasion, Dr Yadav also shared that ballot papers, ballot boxes, ink and other necessary election materials have reached all the 32 districts. He added, “The election officers in process of packing them and sending them to the respective voting centers.”

Yadav furthered: “As the for the December 7 polls, we have already finished printing ballot papers of 15 districts. We are in the process of sending election materials in all 45 districts.”

On a different note, Yadav also lauded Reporters’ Club Nepal’s campaign across the country to help in making election environment peaceful and fair. He added, “Rishi Dhamala has told me that he is starting his campaign from Jhapa. I wish all the best to the club and its President Dhamala for a successful campaign. It is really an important effort in view of the upcoming elections.”

“I am also thankful to all the news media of the country for disseminating positive news and reports regarding the election. The credit for successful conduction of three phases of local level election also goes to online, television, print media and radio.”

“I hope for the same in the coming days.”

KAKADBHITTA, Nov 11: Former Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli has said that none can prevent the left alliance and nationalist forces from victory in the upcoming polls.

Addressing a rally at Dhulabari in Jhapa Constituency No. 1 on Saturday, Oli said that the strategy of Nepali Congress to instigate splits in the left parties is over now. He was of the opinion that the unity of left parties has broken the traps against country’s self-reliance made in the past.

Chairman Oli and leaders of CPN (Maoist Center) and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) have intensified their election campaigns in Jhapa district. CPN-UML, Maoist Center and RPP have forged election alliance in Jhapa district.

PANCHTHAR, Nov 11: Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba is addressing election rallies in Panchthar, Taplejung and Solukhumbu districts today.

PM Deuba is scheduled to address a program in Phidim Municipality to be organized on the occasion of 133rd birth anniversary of Falgunanda.

Nepali Congress Taplejung District Committee said that PM Deuba is also paying homage to Pathibhara Devi in Taplejung prior to addressing the mass meetings in the eastern districts to be organized ahead of the upcoming elections to the House of Representatives and State Assemblies.

Deuba would address the mass meetings in Tokmedanda, Taplejung and then in Panchthar and Solukhumbu.

NC leader Balkrishna Khanda has accompanied PM and NC President Deuba.

Deputy Superintendent of Police of Taplejung Bamdev Gautam said that the security situation has been beefed up in the district for the PM’s visit. RSS