Why in news?
The Left alliance in Nepal is heading for a decisive victory in the first election post the 2015 constitution.
What is the result?
- Nepal’s new constitution provides for a mix of “First Past the Post (FPTP)” - 165 seats and Proportional Representation (PR) -110 seats in its parliament.
- While the final picture of its new Parliament isn’t out, the Leftist Alliance is on course to win more than 70% of the 165 FPTP seats.
- The leftists are also leading in most PR seats.
- This will make it the first decisive win since democracy began in 1990.
- Even at the provincial level that were held along with the national elections, the leftist coalition is in the lead.
What are the implications?
- By forming an ideologically coherent alliance and expanding beyond the traditional strongholds in the hill towns, UML has succeeded in reversing its electoral debacles since 2008.
- This provides an opportunity for a stable government after years of political instability and would help focus on governance.
- But there is considerable scepticism as such opportunities have been wasted in the past due to rumbling disagreements within coalition partners.
- Many constitutional issues and particularly the sensitive Madeshi question isn’t settled as yet.
What are the lessons for India?
- The elections were largely concluded to be free and fair with more than 300 international observers and Election Commission’s awareness drive.
- The Nepali elections would also help in studying the patterns for simultaneous elections for provinces and National Assembly, which has been proposed in India.
- Also, the partial ‘Proportional Representation’ concept that has been instituted in Nepal can be studied.
Source: The Hindu, Indian Express
