Nepali Congress Faces Weakest Ever Representation in House of Representatives Since 1990s Elections

Kathmandu. The Nepali Congress is certain to have its weakest presence in the House of Representatives since the 1990s. Eight general elections for the House of Representatives (including two Constituent Assemblies) have been held since the success of the 2046 People's Movement.

Out of the 8 elections held in 048, 051, 056, 064, 070, 074, 079, and 082, Congress's presence appears weakest in 082.

According to the Election Commission's data, Congress has emerged as the largest party in the House of Representatives in 4 out of those 8 elections, and the second largest in 4 elections. However, its presence is weakest in terms of representation now.

In the 048 election, Congress secured a clear majority by winning 110 out of 205 seats in the House of Representatives. At that time, Congress won 53.66 percent of the total seats. UML, which came second in that election, won 69 seats.

In the mid-term election held in 051, Congress became the second largest party. In the election held for 205 seats, 88 UML candidates were elected, while only 83 Congress candidates were elected. Congress won 40.49 percent of the total House of Representatives seats at that time.

In the 056 election held for 205 seats, Congress became the first party. In that election, 111 Congress candidates were elected, which is 54.15 percent of the total seats. UML elected 71 candidates in that election. UML became the second party.

In 064, the first Constituent Assembly, the system was established to elect members through two systems: direct and proportional representation. A structure of 601 seats was determined: 240 direct, 335 proportional, and 26 nominated. In that election, Congress dropped to the second largest party. The then CPN (Maoist), which became the largest party, won 120 direct seats and 100 proportional seats, totaling 220 seats. Maoists also received 9 nominated seats. Adding these, Maoist's total was 229 seats.

Congress, which was the second party, received 37 direct seats and 73 proportional seats, totaling 110 seats, plus 5 nominated seats. Looking at this, Congress's presence in this election was 19.13 percent of the total seat count.

Since the first Constituent Assembly failed to promulgate the constitution, Congress returned as the first party in the second Constituent Assembly election held in 070. Congress became the first party with 105 direct, 91 proportional, and 10 nominated seats, totaling 206 seats. Congress's share of the total seats in that election was 34.27 percent. UML became the second largest party, securing 91 direct and 84 proportional seats.

After the constitution was promulgated by the Constituent Assembly on Ashoj 3, 2072 BS, the provision was made for a 275-member House of Representatives with 165 direct and 110 proportional seats. According to this provision, in the 074 election, Congress again fell to the second largest party. In that election, UML became the first party by winning 84 direct and 41 proportional seats, while Congress became the second largest party by winning 23 direct and 40 proportional seats. At that time, Congress had a 22.91 percent presence in the total seats of the House of Representatives.

In the 079 House of Representatives election, Congress became the largest party. Congress won 57 direct and 32 proportional seats, totaling 89 seats. This was 32.36 percent of the total seat count. UML became the second largest party in that election with 45 direct and 34 proportional seats, totaling 79 seats.

In the election held on Falgun 21, 082, Congress dropped to the second party and is certain to have the weakest presence in the House of Representatives among the 8 elections held since 048. Congress won only 38 seats in total in the 275-member House of Representatives, with 18 direct and 20 proportional seats. This is only 13.82 percent of the total seat count.

In this election, the Rastriya Swatantra Party became the largest party by winning 125 direct and 57 proportional seats. This is the first time a single party has secured a clear majority since the promulgation of the new constitution.

• Congress Strongest in 056, Weakest in 082

Congress achieved a single majority in 2 out of the 8 elections held from 048 to 082. It secured a majority in the elections held in 048 and 056. Congress's presence in the House of Representatives was 53.66 percent in 048 and 54.15 percent in 056.

Congress's weakest presence will be after the election on Falgun 21 this time. Congress's presence in the House of Representatives this time is only 13.82 percent. Prior to this, Congress's weakest presence was in the first Constituent Assembly election in 064. In that Constituent Assembly, which also functioned as the House of Representatives, Congress's presence was 19.13 percent.

• Seat Count and Percentage Secured by Congress