Left gets 116 seats as FPTP vote count concludes in Nepal

The Left alliance has won a majority in the historic provincial and parliamentary polls, with the CPN-UML emerging as the largest party after counting of votes of the first-past-the-post (FPTP) ended today.
The CPN-UML led by former premier K P Oli and the CPN- Maoist led by former premier Prachanda had forged electoral alliance for both the provincial and parliamentary elections.
The alliance bagged 116 seats out of a total 165 under the first-past-the-post system.
The CPN-UML won 80 seats, which is close to 50 per cent of the total 165 seats under the direct voting system. The CPN-Maoist and the Nepali Congress have won 36 and 23 seats respectively.

The Left alliance would form a government at the centre. CPN-UML chairman Oli is likely to lead the new government.
The combined strength of the two Madhesi parties, Rastriya Janata Party and Federal Socialist Forum Nepal, has reached 21. RJP secured 11 seats whereas FSFN won 10.

The remaining four seats were divided among three fringe parties and an independent candidate.
The Left alliance also secured majority in all provincial assemblies except province No. 2.
In the provincial assembly, out of a total 330 seats, the CPN-UML secured highest number of 168 seats followed by the Maoist Centre with 73 seats.

The Nepali Congress stood third by securing 41 seats. The RJP and FSFN have secured 16 and 24 seats respectively, and the remaining 8 seats went to the fringe parties.
Under proportionate voting system, the CPN-UML is leading the Nepali Congress with a thin margin. The CPN-UML has so far received 2.25 million votes where as the Nepali Congress has secured 2.16 million votes.
The house of representatives consists of 275 members, of which 165 would be elected directly under the first-past-the- post system while the remaining 110 will come through the proportional representation system.
Voting in two-phased parliamentary and provincial assembly elections were held on November 26 and December 7.

In the first phase, polling was held in 32 districts, mostly situated in the hilly and mountainous region, in which 65 per cent of voters had exercised their franchise. In the second phase, 67 per cent voter turnout was registered.