Maoists near majority; foresee difficulty in implementing mandate

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 14 April: Of the 198 results declared so far, Maoists have bagged 109 seats and need 12 more seats for a simple majority in direct elections for 240 seats in the constituent assembly.
Maoists lead in vote counting in districts were ballots are being counted and are assured on a majority to implement their agenda for a republic and a French-style presidential system opposed by Congress and CPN-UML who are pushing a prime ministerial system.
Maoists, during the campaign, projected Chairman Prachanda as Nepal’s first president and Dr Baburam Bhattarai is the head of the Maoist government.
“It’s difficult to implement the mandate; You have to support us with another revolution. There are big challenges,” Bhattarai told a victory rally in Gorkha Monday.
Prithvinarayan Shah began his unification of Nepal 238 years ago from Gorkha with the Nepal Army.
Congress has won 33, CPN-UML 27, Madesh Janaadhikar Forum 18 and Tarai Madesh Loktantrik Party (TMLP) five seats. Nepal Sadbhavana Party and Nepal Majdoor Kishan Party have won two seats each and Janamorcha Nepal and independent have won one seat each.
Forumhas estabklished itself as the main regional party in tarai ahead of late entrant TMLP formed mainly by defectors from Congress, CPN-UML, RJP and RPP.
Vote counting for proportional representation has also started in which Maoists also lead.
Premier Koirala is ensured on a seat in the assembly as he heads his party’s closed list for proportional representation.
Rebel Maoists have defeated Janamorcha Nepal candidates in several constituencies where the party decided to support the smaller communist party in an electoral alliance.
Top leader Lilamani Pokhrel was defeated along with many others; Chairman Amik Serchan may also share a similar fate in a Chitwan constituency where counting has been held up; only one Janamorcha candidate, Health Minister Girirajmani Pokhrel won with Maoist support.
Dr Ram Sharan Mahat and a dozen supporters were injured in Maoist attacks Monday during victory celebrations in Nuwakot where the finance minister won with a narrow majority of 100 plus votes.
Sarad Singh Bhandar, a defector to TMLP from Congress was elected from a Mohottari constituency.
Babar Singh alias Mr John , elected as the only independent, is wanted by police for serial bombings in the capital last year that killed at least three persons.
His relatives collected his election certificate Monday.
Five of 19 ministers in the Koirala cabinet were defeated in
direct elections while all five Maoist ministers won including Hishila Yami, wife of Dr Baburam Bhattarai.
US REACTION DIDN’T COME
A US embassy spokesman give no reaction when asked if the Bush administration will have a working relationship with a government led by Maoists.
The query was made over telephone.
Maoists have staked a claim to led a government with other parties even if they gain a majority in assembly elections.
Maoists are still on a US terrorist list.
The US had earlier linked aid to elections in Nepal.
USA has been coordinating its Nepal with India following a strategic South Asia agreement in 2005/06.
Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee andhis government have welcomed a Maoist victory in Nepal as a ‘positive development’.
India favoured a Congress government after assembly elections and was working closely with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.
Koirala’s Congress hasn’t officially reacted to the debacle although CPN-UML has decided to withdraw from government after a humiliating defeat at Maoist hands.
When a senior Indian government said New Delhi wanted a Congress victory in elections, Maoists protested vehemently describing the comment as unwanted and undesirable interference in Nepal’s internal affairs.
In latest result from Rautahat, CPN-UML chief has also been defeated from his traditional constituency.
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Maoists near majority; foresee difficulty in implementing mandate

By Bhola B Rana

Kathmandu, 14 April: Of the 198 results declared so far, Maoists have bagged 109 seats and need 12 more seats for a simple majority in direct elections for 240 seats in the constituent assembly.
Maoists lead in vote counting in districts were ballots are being counted and are assured on a majority to implement their agenda for a republic and a French-style presidential system opposed by Congress and CPN-UML who are pushing a prime ministerial system.
Maoists, during the campaign, projected Chairman Prachanda as Nepal’s first president and Dr Baburam Bhattarai is the head of the Maoist government.
“It’s difficult to implement the mandate; You have to support us with another revolution. There are big challenges,” Bhattarai told a victory rally in Gorkha Monday.
Prithvinarayan Shah began his unification of Nepal 238 years ago from Gorkha with the Nepal Army.
Congress has won 33, CPN-UML 27, Madesh Janaadhikar Forum 18 and Tarai Madesh Loktantrik Party (TMLP) five seats. Nepal Sadbhavana Party and Nepal Majdoor Kishan Party have won two seats each and Janamorcha Nepal and independent have won one seat each.
Forumhas estabklished itself as the main regional party in tarai ahead of late entrant TMLP formed mainly by defectors from Congress, CPN-UML, RJP and RPP.
Vote counting for proportional representation has also started in which Maoists also lead.
Premier Koirala is ensured on a seat in the assembly as he heads his party’s closed list for proportional representation.
Rebel Maoists have defeated Janamorcha Nepal candidates in several constituencies where the party decided to support the smaller communist party in an electoral alliance.
Top leader Lilamani Pokhrel was defeated along with many others; Chairman Amik Serchan may also share a similar fate in a Chitwan constituency where counting has been held up; only one Janamorcha candidate, Health Minister Girirajmani Pokhrel won with Maoist support.
Dr Ram Sharan Mahat and a dozen supporters were injured in Maoist attacks Monday during victory celebrations in Nuwakot where the finance minister won with a narrow majority of 100 plus votes.
Sarad Singh Bhandar, a defector to TMLP from Congress was elected from a Mohottari constituency.
Babar Singh alias Mr John , elected as the only independent, is wanted by police for serial bombings in the capital last year that killed at least three persons.
His relatives collected his election certificate Monday.
Five of 19 ministers in the Koirala cabinet were defeated in
direct elections while all five Maoist ministers won including Hishila Yami, wife of Dr Baburam Bhattarai.
US REACTION DIDN’T COME
A US embassy spokesman give no reaction when asked if the Bush administration will have a working relationship with a government led by Maoists.
The query was made over telephone.
Maoists have staked a claim to led a government with other parties even if they gain a majority in assembly elections.
Maoists are still on a US terrorist list.
The US had earlier linked aid to elections in Nepal.
USA has been coordinating its Nepal with India following a strategic South Asia agreement in 2005/06.
Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee andhis government have welcomed a Maoist victory in Nepal as a ‘positive development’.
India favoured a Congress government after assembly elections and was working closely with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.
Koirala’s Congress hasn’t officially reacted to the debacle although CPN-UML has decided to withdraw from government after a humiliating defeat at Maoist hands.
When a senior Indian government said New Delhi wanted a Congress victory in elections, Maoists protested vehemently describing the comment as unwanted and undesirable interference in Nepal’s internal affairs.
In latest result from Rautahat, CPN-UML chief has also been defeated from his traditional constituency.
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