Kathmandu, 10 April: At least three persons were killed in elections in Nepal’s first constituent assembly vote that concluded at five in the afternoon Thursday amid widespread threat and intimidation even to election observers.
Voting began at seven in the morning and ended 10 hours later.
An Asian observer said the voting was conducted under widespread threat and intimidation of candidates; two international observers were also threatened, he said.
His team observed elections in 50 of 75 districts.
The observer pointed serious flaws as issues like economy and other political issues didn’t figure in deep debates; he said the constitution is being drafted by politicians and not experts and such drafters should be debarred from holding important public positions later.
But the suggestions will fall on deaf ears.
He criticized the Election Commission (EC) for being more concerned with violation of election code of conduct through wall-postering while not ignoring threat and intimidation.
Maoists prevented rival party supporters from going to vote at polling centers mainly in the hills and even capturing booths.
CPN-UML leveled serious charges of electoral malpractice by Nepali Congress from Nuwakot, Dolakha and districts in tarai.
Workers of Tarai Madesh Loktantric Party have encircled a police base camp in Dhanusa where the party said three more boxes were added to a consignment of 26 boxes transported there from polling centers.
Independent candidate Sambhu Prasad Singh was shot dead in Sarlahi.
Siraha earned the distinction for being the district where the highest number irregularities were recorded at polling centers—voting was invalidated in seven centers and Dinesh Yadav was killed there in a shooting incident.
One person died and three others were injured in clashes between Congress and Madesh Janatantrik Forum in Sunsari.
One person died in a stampede in Mohottari following a firing incident.
An initial estimate said voter turnout was around 60.16 percent which is lower than the normal 64 percent national average voter turnout..
The low national turnout doesn’t give elected assembly members a clear mandate to recommend sweeping measures in a new constitution to replace the present interim draft constitution.
Peace Minister Ram Chandra Paudel of Nepali Congress said the election was ‘a historic success’ but accused Maoists and ‘others’ of rigging; CPN-UML leader Amrit Bohara also generally welcomed the election but accused Maoists and Congress of widespread electoral malpractice.
Re-polling has been initially ordered in 33 constituencies and dates for fresh elections is to be announced later.
India, foremost foreign country in urging the government of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to hold elections along with USA, welcomed the election immediately.
Koirala himself welcomed election in a message to the nation.
First result if expected from Kathmandu-1 where votes were cast electronically counting has started.
Results of direct elections will begin to come out from Friday but result of indirect elections will take more than two weeks to flow.
Votes were cast for 240 candidates to be elected directly and 335 others to be elected indirectly.
Ballot boxes are being transported to district headquarters and counting of some constituencies is expected to start immediately.
In the Valley, booths were captured at three booths in Lalitpur and in a booth in Kathmandu-10 by Maoists.
Three election officials were abducted overnight in Ilam and an appeal has been made by officials for their release.
To enable people in long queues to vote, election time was extended beyond five in the afternoon is some constituencies in Sunsari.
Immediate election now will be drawn to formation of a government and whether Koirala will continue to head the government.
CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal called for the leader of the biggest party in the assembly to lead a government after the vote.
Maoists have for the first time participated in a vote after launching a people’s war.
Leaders of major political parties have welcomed the vote which, they said, was held under fear of even greater violence.
The country is heading for more uncertainty in the immediate fallout of the vote.
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