A+| A| A-
A Vote for Stability
The Nepalese look to the left for reform that will bring prosperity with equity and justice.
In the first elections under Nepal’s new constitution adopted in 2015, its people have voted overwhelmingly for the Left Alliance, defeating the one led by the Nepali Congress. This is the largest mandate for the left since the early 1990s. The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) or UML and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist–Centre) or CPN (MC) alliance secured more than 70% of the 165 seats in the federal parliament elected by the first-past-the-post system (FPTP), and also the majority of votes under the proportional representation system.
Voters believed that the UML–CPN (MC) alliance promised a degree of coherence and the possibility of a durable government, which would help shift the focus of politics to issues of governance to address people’s livelihood matters. On the other hand, the hodgepodge alliance of the Nepali Congress with the former royalists and the Madhesis, was not seen to be credible. The Nepali Congress’s campaign was pessimistic and alarmist.
Dear Reader,
Or
To gain instant access to this article (download).
(Readers in India)
(Readers outside India)
