Maoists make strong showing in Lalitpur

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 11 April: Prakash Man Singh of Nepali Congress is heading for victory in Kathmandu-1—his victory will be the first result to be announced by the Election Commission in Thursday’s constituent assembly election.
There is a close contest between Narahari Acharya of NC and Ishwar Pokhrel of CPN-UML in Kathmandu-5.
Votes are being counted in all three districts of the Valley.
Maoists are leading in in two constituencies in Lalitpur which has three constituencies.
Pampha Bhusal of CPN (Maoist) is leading with 2,652 votes followed by Raghiji Pant of CPN-UML with 1,580 votes in Lalitpur-3.
In Lalitpur-2, Raj Kazi Maharjan of CPN (Maoist) leads in vote counting with 2,158 votes; Sidddhi Lal Singh of CPN-UML is in third place with 1,957 votes.
Pant and Singh were elected to dissolved parliament on CPN-UML tickets.
France rejected Maoist woman leader Bhusal’s nomination as ambassador to France.
CPN-UML is heading for reverses in three Valley districts—its traditional stronghold.
Ballot boxes are being airlifted to many district quarters from remote areas for counting Friday.
Counting of direct votes has started.in all three districts of the Valley and counting of indirect vote sunder proportional representation will take time.
“Under the proportional system of indirect vote, the entire country is a constituency. Re-polling has been ordered in many booths. The final result of voting under this system will take time,” former Chief Election Commissioner Surya Prasad Shrestha and an election observer said.
He admitted voter turnout of 60 percent was below the 64 percent national average but added ‘this could be because of the difficult situation’
Turnout was relatively high in the tarai despite a forced strike called by rebel groups.
In Jajarkot, two ballot boxes went missing after a porter fell; one box was recovered without votes while search continues for the second box..
CPN-UML has demanded re-poll in 91 polling booths whereas Election Commission has ordered re-polling in only 35 booths so far.
Sunil Prajapati of Nepal Majdoor Kishan Party leads in one constituency with 1,558 while Party Chairman Narayanman Bijukakchaya trails in third place in another constituency.
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