Proportional representation stops Left from 2/3 majority
KATHMANDU: Votes under Nepal’s proportional representation system stopped the left alliance from securing a two-thirds majority in Parliament despite an impressive showing in ballotting under the first-past-the-post system.
This has ended fears of the Constitution being rewritten and the introduction of social and economic reforms that would suit the alliance forged by the CPNUML and Cpn-maoist Centre.
The voting under the proportional representation system also stopped any party from gaining an absolute majority, but the two communist parties will have a majority in the lower house.
A total of 165 members of the 275-strong Parliament are being elected under the first-past-thepost system, while the remaining 110 seats will be filled under the proportional representation system. According to the final firstpast-the-post results announced on Wednesday, the CPN-UML has won 80 federal constituencies and the Cpn-maoist Centre 36 federal constituencies. The total strength of the left alliance under this system is 106 seats - it has a clear majority in the lower house.
But the alliance has not done as well under the proportional representation system, and was unable to gain 66% of the total seats in lower house, according to results made public on Thursday. The counting of votes is expected to end on Friday.
The ruling Nepali Congress fared poorly under the first-pastthe-post system but is in a neckand-neck contest with the CPNUML under the proportional representation system. The CPNUML secured 2.83 million votes under the proportional representation system while the Nepali Congress bagged 2.73 million.