Cleat lead for Maoists; Congress will play role says Paudel
By Bhola B Rana
Kathmandu, 11 April: Maoists have established an early, clear and comfortable lead in Thursday’s constituent assembly elections.
CPN (Maoist) have said they will push a republic in constituent assembly elections.
Maoist Local Development Deb Gurung defeated his nearest rival of Congress Palten Gurung collecting 1,652 votes in Manang.
CPN (Maoist) is leading in 36 constituencies.
Nepali Congress and CPN-UML are trailing behind and lead in 13 and 11 constituencies respectively.
Direct elections were held for 240 constituencies.
Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has established a winning lead in Dandelhura with 1,500 votes.
Sujata, daughter of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, leads from a constituency in Sunsari is leading in vote counting with 900 votes in a Sunsari constituency; the lead isn’t comfortable to ensure a victory.
CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal is trailing in two constituencies in the capital and Rautahat.
Two results have been officially announced so far.
Prakash Man Singh of Congress was elected from Kathmandu-1 and trounced CPN-UML and Maoist candidates.
India was banking on a victory of the Nepali Congress to push its agenda in Nepal; a defeat for Congress and victory for Maoists will be a setback for both the countries coordinating their Nepal policy.
"There were pressures. Review will be held later. The result was inexplicable. There were pressures and threats. There will be some bitterness," Peace Minister of Ram Chandra Paudel told Radio Nepal.
He still maintained Nepali Congress will get a majority but didn’t explain how and didn’t concede defeat.
“The constitution will be drafted by protecting democracy and its fundamentals. This is the decade of lokatantra [democracy]."
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