Maoists win majority in polls; New Delhi expresses its willingness to work with the Maoists; MJF demands resignation of Koirala, CPN(UML) withdraws from interim government
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Whatsapp
  • Linkedin
  • Print

    • In the parliamentary elections held on April 10, the Maoists gained a clear majority in the first–past-the-post–system. Of the 200 seats for which the results were declared, Maoists won 110, with the Nepali Congress and CPI (UML) bagging 32 and 27 respectively1. In the proportional representation system, the Maoists again received around 37.42 percent of the votes polled. The CPN (UML) stood at second place with 27.9 percent, followed by the Nepali Congress at 26.86 percent2.

    As the Maoists continued to remain on the US terrorist watch list, Ambassadors of the United States and the United Kingdom met the Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to discuss the post election scenario. India on its part has expressed its willingness to work with the Maoists and stated that it would actively work with the government3. Maoist Chairman Prachanda has however stated that Kathmandu would be equidistant from both India and China4.

    The Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) and Terai Madhes Democratic Party bagged 23 seats in the direct elections and the coordinator of the MJF, Upendra Yadav demanded the resignation of the Mr. Koirala5. In another turn of events, the CPN-UML has decided to withdraw from the interim government citing the electoral verdict as the main reason for its decision6.

    In other domestic developments, Kathmandu expedited the formation of the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction, which would be responsible for the Peace and Conflict Management Committee. The committee in turn would be responsible for monitoring the implementation of the comprehensive peace pact7.

    Top