Ruling Nepali Congress emerges as largest party; wins 57 seats under direct voting in Nepal's HoR polls

Prime Minister Sher Bahur Deuba's Nepali Congress emerged as largest party by winning 57 seats in Nepal's parliamentary election as counting of votes under direct system concluded here on Monday, brightening party's chances of forming new government.

Elections to House of Representatives (HoR) and seven provincial assemblies were held on vember 20 to end prolonged political instability that has plagued Himalayan nation. counting of votes started a day later.

In 275-member HoR, 165 will be elected through direct voting, while remaining 110 will be elected through a proportional electoral system. A party or a coalition needs 138 seats for a clear majority.

According to Nepal's Election Commission, Nepali Congress has won 57 seats under direct voting, Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) (CPN-UML) has bagged 44 seats, while CPN-Maoist Centre and CPN-Unified Socialist have emerged victorious on 18 and 10 seats respectively.

Similarly, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and Janata Samajwi Party (JSP) have won seven seats each. Likewise, Loktantrik Samajwi Party and Nagarik Unmukti Party have won 4 and 3 seats respectively, it said.

Rastriya Janamorcha, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party and Janamat Party have won one seat each. independent candidates have won five seats, it ded.

counting of votes for all 165 HoR seats under direct voting method has ended, Election Commission spokesperson Shaligram Poudyal said.

However, vote counting under proportionate voting system for two constituencies is still going on, official said.

Under proportionate voting system, CPN-UML has bagged highest number of votes 2791,734, followed by Nepali Congress with 2666,262.

CPN-MC and RSP have received 1162,931 and 1124,557 votes respectively. Similarly, RPP, JSP and Janamat have received 586,979, 420,946 and 394,253 votes respectively.

So far, 12 political parties and five independent candidates have been elected to HoR. Similarly, seven political parties, NC, CPN-UML, CPN-MC, RSP, RPP, JSP and Janamat, have got recognition of a national party.

HoR seats under proportional voting system will be determined on basis of weight of votes received by political parties under proportionate voting system.

Under a proportional voting system, CPN-UML is likely to get 33 seats followed by Nepali Congress with 32 and CPN-MC with 14. RSP, RPP, JSP and Janamat are likely to get seven, seven, five, and five seats respectively.

With this, Nepali Congress will emerge as largest party with 89 seats in HoR followed by CPN-UML with 77 seats. CPN-MC will get third position with 32 seats, while RSP will be fourth with 21 seats and RPP fifth with 14 seats.

Political instability has been a recurrent feature of Nepal's Parliament since end of dece-long Maoist insurgency, and prime minister has served a full term after civil war ended in 2006.

frequent changes and fighting among parties have been blamed for country's slow ecomic growth.

next government will face challenges of keeping a stable political ministration, reviving tourism industry and balancing ties with neighbours - China and India.