Former UML Vice-Chairman Surendra Pandey Claims Clear Majority Unlikely Under Current Electoral System

Kathmandu. Former Vice-Chairman of the CPN-UML, Surendra Pandey, claimed that the current electoral system makes it difficult for any party to secure a clear majority in the country. Speaking to journalists after participating in the voting process at a polling center in Rapti Municipality-5, Eastern Chitwan, Pandey expressed doubt that the country would achieve immediate stability even after the elections.

 Pandey characterized this election as a measure to assess the country's new national politics following the events of Bhadra 23-24. Analyzing the election results, Pandey argued that Nepal's current electoral system negates a single majority. He stated that under the system where 60 percent of seats are first-past-the-post and 40 percent are proportional representation, securing a majority for any party is akin to chewing a hard piece of flattened rice (falam ko chiura).

Pandey expressed dissatisfaction that elections were held in Nepal while sidelining the main agendas of the constitution, citing the example of neighboring Bangladesh. Referring to the context where Bangladesh decided on the Prime Minister's tenure and the structure of the parliament through a referendum alongside the elections, he noted that in Nepal, parties are merely engaged in a race to form the government and appoint the Prime Minister. Amidst concerns that an interim government could not hold elections, Pandey thanked the government led by Sushila Karki for successfully completing the elections.