Nepali Congress leading,Maoists third in early trends; counting under way

In Gorkha,Bhattarai had established a substantial lead over his nearest rival.

Yubaraj Ghimire

Early trends of poll results in Nepal indicated that the United Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists,the largest party in the previous House,is trailing behind two other parties. The party came third in number of votes,as counting progressed in 102 out of 240 constituencies under the first-past the Post system.

UCPN-M Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda was among those trailing in Kathmandu-10 by the time 13,000 votes,almost one fifth of the total votes,were counted. Rajan K C of the Nepali Congress had established a slender lead over Prachanda there.

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Reports gathered from 31 out of 75 administrative districts suggested that the Nepali Congress was leading in 35 places,followed by Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist in 25 places,and the UCPN-M in only eight places.

The Election Commission claimed that elections on Tuesay were free and fair,but was reluctant to entertain complaints from some high-profile constituencies,including one in Gorkha where Maoist Party supporters allegedly captured ballot papers from several booths in favour of their candidate Baburam Bhattarai,a former Prime Minister. Similarly,Tarai Madesh Loktantrik Party Chief Mahanth Thakuar has written to the EC alleging that the district administration favoured Nepali Congress candidate Amaresh Singh who mobilised people to prevent other party supporters from casting their votes.

In Gorkha,Bhattarai had established a substantial lead over his nearest rival.

Wednesdays trends also indicate that the new House will be a Hung one,although it will take at least two more days for all the 240 results to be declared. The EC will take another one weekto tally and declare final results for the 335 seats under the proportional representation system.