Maoists behind in initial Nepal poll result
April 11th, 2008 | by admin |
In Kathmandu’s constituency number one, the Maoist candidate yielded results under 4,000 votes. The Nepali Congress candidate was victorious, securing more than 14,000 votes.
Analysts say that although this is an early first result, it provides an insight into the popularity of Maoists.
The popularity of the Maoist party is being observed and tested at the ballot for the first time in this election.
Results for all the 240 constituencies are expected over the following 10 days. Officials have stated that polling has been postponed in 10 constituencies.
Many Nepalis and international observers were surprised to see that Thursday’s nationwide elections, just two years after the end of the Maoist insurgency, took place considerably more peacefully than past votes of the 1990s.
There were four election-related deaths in the deeply troubled south-eastern region.
The Election Commission said there was a turnout of 60%, with polling cancelled because of malpractice in just 33 polling stations out of 21,000.
It is hoped the election will consolidate the end of the Maoist insurgency, which has stopped two years ago, says the BBC’s Charles Haviland in Kathmandu.
