Kathmandu: Nepal’s Unified CPN-Maoist, trailing in the initial results of the polls, on Thursday demanded a suspension of the vote count alleging a ‘conspiracy’, even as Nepali Congress and CPN-UML asked the Maoists to honour the verdict.
“Due to the conspiracy and unusual activities during the Constituent Assembly elections, counting did not go ahead as per people’s expectations and opinions, therefore, we demand that the vote counting be postponed,” the Unified CPN-Maoist said in a statement.
Maoists chairman Prachanda suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of Nepali Congress candidate Rajan KC.
Nepali Congress was leading in 69 constituencies whereas CPN-UML was leading in 58 and Unified CPN-Maoist in 16 seats, according to Election Commission sources.
Madhesi Peoples Rights Forum-Nepal and Madhesi Peoples Rights Forum Democratic were leading in nine and six constituencies respectively.
Rastriya Prajatantra Party was leading in three and Terai Madhes Democratic Party in two constituencies, the sources said.
Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety told reporters today that the counting was being carried out in ‘a transparent manner’ and would continue.
“The elections were conducted in a free, fair and fearless manner, so the results must be accepted by all.”
However, the Maoist party decided to call back its representatives from the counting process after holding its central committee meeting.
Uperety called on “the political parties, civil society members and international community to show patience and wait until the final results were out.”
He also asked the political parties to honour the peoples’ verdict expressed through secret voting procedures.
Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress party asked the UCPN-Maoist to show sportsmanship and honour the verdict given by the people.
“Be a responsible political party and honour the verdict of the Nepali people,” Nepali Congress vice president Ramchandra Poudyal told reporters here.
The CPN-UML also asked the Maoists to respect the verdict with party chairman Jhalanath Khanal, saying, “The Maoist chief himself had welcomed the conduction of the elections saying it was peaceful and impartial shortly after the voting was over and their sudden decision to boycott the vote counting and dishonouring the peoples verdict was a wrong step.”
The Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML statement came in response to the Maoists’ demand for halting the vote counting process alleging that “national and international forces have hatched conspiracies against the Maoist party.”
“The Maoists’ decision to boycott the vote counting process after their defeat is immoral and irresponsible act,” Poudyal said.
“I have told Prachanda over phone today that they should not run away from the vote counting and should behave as a responsibility political party,” he said.
“Nepali Congress believes in the principle that a party can be defeated but the nation cannot,” Poudyal asserted. If there is irregularities in a particular constituency they should register a complain at the Election Commission by producing evidence, but they cannot reject the entire vote counting process simply because they are loosing,” Poudyal said.
He said that the Nepali Congress is committed to draft a new constitution within a year as per the wishes and aspirations of the people.
The counting will lead to the formation of a 601-member assembly to draft a new Constitution, including 240 elected under a direct voting system. There was proportionate voting for 335 seats and the remaining 26 members will be nominated by the government.
In the previous Constituent Assembly elections in 2008, UCPN-M had emerged as the largest party with NC and CPN–UML in second and third place. (PTI)
