Nepal votes in first post-war poll

by Dramelin 10:30 PM 0 comments

People in Nepal are voting in a general election, the country`s first since a civil war ended and the monarchy was abolished.
More than 15 million eligible voters will choose a 275-member parliament and provincial assemblies.
The centrist Nepali Congress Party is taking on an alliance of Maoist former rebels and the opposition Communist UML party.
The second phase of the election will be held on 7 December.
The polls are the first under a new constitution that paved the way for sweeping changes to the political system.
It was adopted after years of negotiations following a 10-year civil war between the security forces and Maoist insurgents.
The BBC World Service`s South Asia editor, Anbarasan Ethirajan, says the Nepali Congress Party faces a tough battle against the left alliance.
He adds that there are hopes that the new government will bring unity to the country and give a new impetus to the massive reconstruction programme following a devastating earthquake in 2015.
Nepal is still recovering from the ten-year Maoist insurgency.
It was also devastated by a huge earthquake in 2015.
Nepal votes in the first phase of its general elections (on Sunday 1245 GMT - check the timing) to choose a new parliament and provincial assemblies that many hope will bring much needed stability to the Himalayan nation.
More than fifteen million eligible voters will choose a 275-member parliament.
The second phase of the elections will be held on December Seventh.
Our South Asia editor, Anbarasan Ethirajan has more details:) The elections in Nepal are the first under a new constitution that paved the way for sweeping changes to the political system.
It was adopted after years of negotiations following a ten-year civil war between the security forces and Maoist insurgents.
The centrist Nepali Congress Party faces a tough battle against a left alliance which brings together the main group of Maoist former rebels and the opposition Communist UML party.
People hope the new government will bring unity to the country and give a new impetus to the massive reconstruction programme, following a devastating earthquake in 2015.