Nepali Congress takes narrow lead over CPN-UML in Nepal polls

Nepali Congress took a narrow lead over the CPN-UML while the UCPN (Maoist) was at a distant third as the counting continued today for the election to the Constituents Assembly that will draft Nepal's new Constitution in the country after years of political turmoil.

As the results for around 215 of the total 240 seats under direct voting system have been announced, Nepali Congress (NC) won 94 seats and CPN-UML 83 got seats. The UCPN (Maoist) was trailing behind in the third position with 24 seats. Other fringe parties won 14 seats.

UCPN-Maoist chief Prachanda got elected from Siraha 5 constituency in southern Nepal. Prachanda earlier had humiliating defeat in Kathmandu 5 constituency.

Meanwhile, the vote counting under proportionate system also got underway this morning. The CPN-UML was taking leading in vote counting tally with 45,000 votes until 11 am. NC has got 31,160 while UCPN (M) has garnered 24,109 votes.

The Jhalanath Khanal-led CPN-UML and Nepali Congress headed by Sushil Koirala were locked in a fierce battle to emerge as the leading party in the polls to elect a 601-member Constituent Assembly.

The counting will lead to the formation of a Constituent Assembly, including 240 elected under a direct voting system. Proportionate voting will elect members to 335 seats and the remaining 26 members will be nominated by the government.

A party needs a total of 301 seats to get an absolute majority.

Nepal's Maoists are threatening to boycott the newly-elected Constituent Assembly, alleging conspiracy.

The vote was only the second one since a civil war launched by Maoist rebels ended in 2006. Nepal was then transformed into a secular republic.