Miscellaneous
3 out of 6 parties err on women’s representation
At least three out of the six parties, which failed to submit their lists of candidates for Proportional Representation category of the provincial assembly elections, have made mistakes on women’s representation.At least three out of the six parties, which failed to submit their lists of candidates for Proportional Representation category of the provincial assembly elections, have made mistakes on women’s representation.
The Election Commission on Tuesday sent letters to the Nepali Congress, the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal, the Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal, the Rastriya Janamorcha, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party and the Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Manch to submit revised lists by January 4.
According to election officials, the NC picked women candidates from the lower order of the list, going against the Directive on Elections to the Provincial Assemblies.
Clause 34 (3) of the directive says a party cannot choose candidates from the same community from the lower order without picking those higher on the lists for representation in the state assemblies. The NC has won a total of 72 seats in the provincial assemblies, according to the poll authority.
Although the NC was found to have breached the order, said EC Spokesperson Dinesh Ghimire, he was not sure whether the grand old party erred in a single province or many.
The Rastriya Prajatantra Party and the Rastriya Janamorcha picked male candidates in the province where they had won a single seat under the PR category, according to the EC.
If a party wins a single seat, according to Ghimire, a woman has to be elected. The RPP secured a total of three seats—one each in provinces 1, 3 and 6. The Rastriya Janamorcha has got two seats—one each in provinces 4 and 5.
According to Clause 35 (4) of the directive, any party failing to submit the revised lists by ensuring proper representation will get to elect no member.