Page 6 - Nepal

PM Deuba's Nepali Congress emerges single largest party in Nepal polls

The ruling Nepali Congress led by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Sunday maintained its lead as the single largest party by winning 53 seats in the parliamentary polls held to end the prolonged political instability that has plagued the Himalayan nation. Elections to the House of Representatives (HoR) and seven provincial assemblies were held on November 20. The counting of votes started on Monday. The Nepali Congress has won 53 seats and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified MarxistLeninist) (CPN-UML) secured 42 seats in the elections. The CPN-Maoist has emerged as the third largest party with 17 seats while the CPN-Unified Socialist has bagged 10 seats. The newly-formed Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and pro-Hindu Rastriya Prajatantra Party have won 7 seats each. Independent and other smaller parties have emerged victorious on 21 seats. Out of the total 165 seats under direct voting, the results on 21 seats are still awaited. The ruling five-party alliance has won 85 seats,

NC led-ruling alliance heading towards majority in Nepal parliamentary poll

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's Nepali Congress-led ruling coalition was on Friday heading towards winning a clear majority in Nepal's parliamentary elections with the alliance bagging 64 seats out of the 118 declared In the 275-member House of Representatives, 165 will be elected through direct voting, while the remaining 110 will be elected through a proportional electoral system. A party or a coalition needs 138 seats to win a clear majority. The Nepali Congress was set to emerge as the single-largest party after winning 39 seats alone under the direct voting system. Its alliance partners -- CPN-Maoist Centre and CPN-Unified Socialist have won 12, 10 seats. The Lokatantrik Samajwadi and Rastriya Janamorcha have bagged two and one seat respectively. They all are part of the ruling alliance. The Opposition alliance led by former premier K P Sharma Oli-led CPN-UML has bagged 35 seats. The CPN-UML has won 29 seats. The CPN-UML partners - the Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Ja

Nepal's political leaders start efforts for govt formation amid vote count

As the counting of votes in Nepal's parliamentary election is on, the country's top leaders have initiated efforts to explore possibilities for the formation of a new government to end the political instability that has plagued the Himalayan nation for more than a decade. Elections to the House of Representatives (HoR) and seven provincial assemblies were held on Sunday. The counting of votes started on Monday. Communist Party of Nepal (Unified MarxistLeninist) (CPN-UML) chairman K P Oli on Thursday called CPN-Maoist Centre chairman Pushpakamal Dahal Prachanda and the two leaders congratulated each other on getting elected to the HoR. Prime Minister and Nepali Congress president Sher Bahadur Deuba also telephoned Prachanda and Oli to congratulate them on their victory. All three top leaders have been elected to the HoR after registering victories in the election. During their telephonic conversation, Oli offered Prachanda to move ahead by forging collaboration in the process of ...

Nepal parliamentary polls: Nepali Congress-led coalition leads in counting

Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's Nepali Congress (NC)-led ruling coalition was on Thursday on its way to winning Nepal's parliamentary elections and has bagged 40 seats out of 65 declared so far. Out of the 275 Members of Parliament, 165 will be elected through direct voting, while the remaining 110 will be elected through a proportional electoral system. Till now, the Nepali Congress has won 25 seats and is leading in 31 more. The CPN-Maoist Centre has bagged 7 seats, CPN-Unified Socialist 6 and Rastriya Janamorcha and Lokatantrik Samajwadi Party one each. They all are part of the ruling coalition. The Maoist Centre and CPN-Unified Socialist have been leading in 10 and 5 seats respectively. The main Opposition CPN-UML led by former premier K P Sharma Oli has won 15 seats and is leading in 29 others. The CPN-UML partners - the Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Janata Samajwadi Party - have won two and one seats respectively. The newly-formed Rastriya Swotantra Party has wo

China encroaches on 36 hectares of land along Nepal's northern border

China's salami-slice strategy on Nepal's northern border has resulted in the encroachment of 36 hectares of Nepal's land at 10 places

Nepal polls: PM Deuba wins from Dadeldhura; Congress ahead in tally

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba was elected on Wednesday with a huge margin of votes from the Dadeldhura constituency in far west Nepal for the seventh consecutive time, with his Nepali Congress party leading in the election tally by winning 11 seats so far. Elections to the House of Representatives (HoR) and seven provincial assemblies were held on Sunday. The counting of votes started on Monday. Deuba secured 25,534 votes against his nearest rival Sagar Dhakal, 31, an independent candidate who received 1,302 votes. Deuba has never lost any parliamentary election in the five decades of his political career. The 77-year-old Nepali Congress president Deuba is currently holding the post of Prime Minister for the fifth term. Dhakal is a young engineer, who had a verbal squabble with Deuba during a public debate at a BBC's Sajha Sawal programme five years ago, after which he decided to challenge Deuba saying that now youths should get a chance in politics and senior people like Deuba

PM Deuba elected for 7th consecutive time from home district of Dhankuta

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Wednesday was elected for the consecutive 7th time from the home district of Dhankuta

Nepal should develop relations with India, China for prosperity: NC leader

Prakash Man Singh, a senior leader of the ruling Nepali Congress, has said that the new government in Nepal should develop cordial and friendly relationships with both India and China and seek support from all friendly countries for the landlocked Himalayan nation's prosperity. Singh, a former Deputy Prime Minister, won the House of Representatives election with a margin of just 127 votes against former BBC Nepali Service journalist Ravindra Mishra, a candidate fielded by the pro-monarchy Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) in the November 20 general elections. If an appropriate opportunity comes, I will contest the election to the Parliamentary Party leader to head the new government, Singh told PTI while responding to a question at his residence here shortly after winning the election. He said that "the new government needs to develop cordial and friendly relationships with both the neighbours, India and China and seek the support, assistance from all the friendly countries for ...

Jubilant Foodworks to set up subsidiary in Nepal for Domino's Pizza biz

Food services company Jubilant Foodworks has received approval of its board to set up a subsidiary to run Domino's Pizza business in Nepal, the company said on Monday. The subsidiary will be set up under Jubilant FoodWorks International Luxembourg. "The Board of Directors of Jubilant FoodWorks International Luxembourg, a step down wholly owned subsidiary of the Company on November 21, 2022 has inter-alia approved the incorporation of a wholly owned subsidiary company in Nepal," the company said in a regulatory filing. The company has not yet decided the name of the subsidiary. "Nepal Subsidiary shall have the exclusive right to develop and operate Domino's Pizza stores in the territory of Nepal," the filing said.

Lesser known RSP emerges as dark horse in Nepal general elections

The Rastriya Swatantra Party, floated by a former television personality, has emerged as the dark horse in the Nepal elections, coming third behind heavyweights like the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML, and leading in seven constituencies. The counting of votes started at 7 am local time on Monday and continued till 5 pm, a day after about 61 per cent polling was recorded across the Himalayan nation. The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is floated by Rabi Lamichhane, a 48-year-old former television personality, who shot to fame while attempting to set the Guinness world record for hosting the longest-ever marathon talk show in 2013. The RSP is currently leading in three constituencies in Kathmandu and one in Lalitpur district. The ruling Nepali Congress (NC), which has so far won in one constituency, is leading in 32 constituencies, while CPN-UML led by former prime minister K P Sharma Oli is leading in 17 constituencies. RSP is leading in 7 constituencies, while the Rastriya ...

61% voting recorded in Nepal elections, 1 killed in poll-related violence

About 61 per cent polling was recorded on Sunday in Nepal's parliament and provincial assemblies elections, marred by sporadic violence and clashes that left one person dead and disrupted voting at several polling stations, officials said. The polling started at 7 am local time at over 22,000 polling centres and closed at 5 pm. "The nationwide voter turnout has stood at around 61 per cent. This is likely to increase slightly as we continue receiving details from districts across the country," Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya told reporters. "This is certainly less than what we had expected," he added. The voter turnout is significantly lower as compared to the past two elections - 77 per cent in 2013, and 78 per cent in 2017. More than 17.9 million voters were eligible to cast their votes to elect a 275-member House of Representatives and provincial assemblies. Thapaliya said the elections were held largely in a peaceful manner except for a "few minor incidents.

Nepal elections pass off largely peacefully, total turnout 61%: CEC

Nepal on Sunday held largely peaceful elections to the federal Parliament and provincial Assemblies with some cases of violent clashes between party cadres reported

Missing rare white-rumped vulture from Nepal found in Bihar's Darbhanga

A winged visitor, a rare white-rumped vulture, from Nepal which went missing some ten months ago, was found by Bihar's bird ringing station officials at Darbhanga after it went off the radar despite being radio tagged. The bird, belonging to a critically endangered species, was last sighted in the Himalayan nation's Tanahun district, and was found in a weakened condition as it was starving for want of food, according to officials. The white-rumped vulture was listed as a critically-endangered species in 2000 as its population declined rapidly, primarily as a result of feeding on carcasses of animals treated with the veterinary drug diclofenac, Chief Wildlife Warden PK Gupta told PTI. White-rumped vultures, found generally near human habitations, were very common in the Indian subcontinent, besides Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and southern Vietnam. These birds feed mostly on the ground, but roost and nest in trees and cliffs, and spend much of their time soaring on wind current

Nepal votes to elect new parliament, provincial assemblies amid instability

Millions of Nepalese began voting on Sunday to elect a new parliament and provincial assemblies amid tight security, hoping to end the political instability that has plagued the country for more than a decade and impeded growth. The polling started at 7 am local time at over 22,000 polling centres and will close at 5 pm. The counting of the votes will begin soon after the polling ends but final results are expected within a week. More than 17.9 million eligible voters will elect a 275-member House of Representatives. Out of a total of 275 Members of Parliament, 165 will be elected through direct voting, while the remaining 110 will be elected through a proportional electoral system. At the same time, voters will also choose representatives to seven provincial assemblies. Out of a total of 550 members of the provincial assemblies, 330 will be elected directly and 220 will be elected through the proportional method. Political observers closely watching the elections have predicted

Nepal President tells people to enthusiastically participate in voting

Nepal President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Saturday urged all people for their enthusiastic participation during the November 20 elections, stressing that voting is the highest exercise of civil rights. More than 17.9 million eligible people will on Sunday vote across the Himalayan nation to elect 165 out of a total of 275 members of the federal Parliament, and in provincial elections in seven provinces. The remaining 110 will be elected through a proportional electoral system. Issuing a message on the eve of the polls, Bhandari urged the voters to participate enthusiastically in the elections to the House of Representatives and provincial assemblies being conducted in a single phase across the country. Bhandari expressed her belief that the democratic system and institutions will gradually become more responsive to the people through the general elections conducted in a free, fair, fearless manner. The elections will help establish good governance and transparency that the people are

17.9 mn people set for national and provincial elections in Nepal on Sunday

Nepal will hold national and provincial elections on Sunday which the Nepali Congress-led ruling coalition is expected to win but unlikely to provide much-needed political stability in the country sandwiched between India and China. More than 17.9 million people are eligible to vote in seven provinces across the Himalayan nation. The polling will start at 7 am local time and close at 5 pm. Out of a total of 275 members of the federal Parliament, 165 will be elected through direct voting, while the remaining 110 will be elected through a proportional electoral system. Similarly, out of a total of 550 members of the Provincial Assembly, 330 will be elected directly and 220 will be elected through the proportional method. All preparations and security arrangements have been completed. Political observers closely watching the elections have predicted a hung parliament and a government that is unlikely to provide the required political stability in Nepal. Political instability has bee

Shadow of India-China tussle, high inflation over Nepal elections

About 18 million people are eligible to vote for the 275-member Parliament, as well as the 550 members of seven Provincial Assemblies

Indo-Nepal border sealed for 72 hours ahead of general elections in Nepal

Following the decision, the people will not be allowed to travel between these two countries from midnight of November 17

CEC Rajiv Kumar invited as international observer for Nepal polls

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar has been invited by the Election Commission of Nepal as an international observer for the forthcoming elections there. Elections are scheduled in Nepal on November 20 to elect 275 members of the Federal Parliament and 550 seats of the seven Provincial Assemblies. Kumar will be leading a delegation of ECI officials as state guest in Nepal from November 18 to 22, the poll panel said on Thursday. Kumar would be visiting polling stations in Kathmandu and nearby areas. The EC also has a similar international election visitors programme where members from other poll management bodies are invited to experience first hand India's Lok Sabha and assembly elections.

6.6 magnitude earthquake hits western Nepal; 6 dead, several injured

Earthquake measuring 6.6-magnitude occurred in western Nepal whose centre was Doti district, according to the National Earthquake Monitoring Center