CPN-UML's Direct Election Votes Significantly Higher Than Proportional Representation Count in Federal Polls

Kathmandu. The votes received by CPN-UML in the direct elections held on Falgun 21 were found to be nearly 200,000 more than those received under proportional representation.

CPN-UML fielded candidates in 164 out of 165 constituencies in the direct elections but managed to secure victory in only 9 seats. The total votes for all CPN-UML candidates in the direct elections amount to 1,634,135.

Similarly, the total votes received by CPN-UML under proportional representation were 1,455,885. The difference between CPN-UML's direct and proportional votes is 178,250.

The shrinking parliamentary size of older and previously major parties, following the miraculous victory of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which won 21 seats in the 2079 elections to become the fourth largest party in the 275-member House of Representatives, has led to a decrease in their vote share.

This election has seen the identity of previously major parties change as their size has diminished, leading them to maintain the status of 'smaller' parties.