2017 Nepalese general election

26 November
7 December 2017

All 275 seats in the House of Representatives
138 seats needed for a majority
Registered15,427,731
Turnout10,587,521 (68.63%) Decrease 9.71pp
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Khadga Prasad Oli Sher Bahadur Deuba Pushpa Kamal Dahal
Party CPN (UML) Nepali Congress Maoist Centre
Leader since July 2014 7 March 2016 May 1999
Leader's seat Jhapa 5 Dadeldhura 1 Chitwan 3
Last election 175 196 80
Seats won 121 63 53
Seat change Decrease54 Decrease133 Decrease27
Popular vote 3,173,494 3,128,389 1,303,721
Percentage 33.25% 32.78% 13.66%
Swing Increase9.59pp Increase7.23pp Decrease1.55pp

  Fourth party Fifth party
 
Leader Mahantha Thakur Upendra Yadav
Party RJPN Forum Nepal
Leader since 21 April 2017 15 July 2015
Leader's seat Mahottari 3 Saptari 2
Last election
Seats won 17 16
Seat change New New
Popular vote 472,254 470,201
Percentage 4.95% 4.93%
Swing New New

Results by constituency

Prime Minister before election

Sher Bahadur Deuba
Nepali Congress

Elected Prime Minister

Khadga Prasad Oli
CPN (UML)

Election, December 7 in Kankai Municipality

General elections were held in Nepal in two phases on 26 November and 7 December 2017 to elect the 275 members of the fifth House of Representatives, the lower house of the Federal Parliament of Nepal.[1]

The election was held alongside the first provincial elections for the seven provincial assemblies.

A political deadlock between the governing Nepali Congress and the winning left-wing coalition over the system used to elect the upper house led to delay in forming the new government.[2]

Following the announcement of the final result by the Election Commission, K.P. Oli of Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) was sworn in as Prime Minister on 15 February 2018 by the President according to Article 76 (2) of the constitution. He passed a Motion of Confidence on 11 March 2018 with 208 votes.[3]

Background

The previous House of Representatives, elected in May 1999, was dissolved by King Gyanendra on advice of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in May 2002 in order to hold new elections. Elections could not take place due to the ongoing civil war which eventually led King Gyanendra to stage a royal coup in February 2005 after dismissing four Prime Ministers. Following the democracy movement of 2006, the King reinstated the earlier legislature. On 15 January 2007, the House of Representatives was replaced by an Interim Legislature. The Interim Legislature consisted both of members appointed by an agreement between the Seven Party Alliance and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist).

The Interim Legislature was followed by the first Constituent Assembly whose task was to form a new constitution. The failure of the assembly to write a constitution within the stipulated time led to the formation of the second Constituent Assembly which approved the Constitution of Nepal on 20 September 2015. After the promulgation of constitution, the second Constituent Assembly was converted into a unitary Legislature Parliament. The constitution set the tenure of the Legislature Parliament until 21 January 2018 or the date of filing of nomination for the House of Representatives, whichever is earlier.[4] Per this provision, the tenure of the Legislature Parliament ended on 14 October 2017.

A five-member Constituency Delineation Commission was formed under the chairmanship of former Supreme Court Justice Kamal Narayan Das to redraw the constituency boundaries to 165, a reduction from the 240 used in the 2013 elections. It submitted its report to the government on 30 August 2017.[5] The boundaries set by this commission will remain unchanged for the next 20 years as per Article 286 (12).

Electoral system

The 275 members of the legislature were elected by two methods; 165 were elected from single-member constituencies by first-past-the-post voting and 110 seats were elected by closed list proportional representation from a single nationwide constituency.[6] Each voter received separate ballot papers for the two methods. A party or electoral alliance had to pass the election threshold of 3% of the overall valid vote to be allocated a seat under the proportional method.[7]

Nepal uses the Sainte-Laguë method to allocate proportional seats. Typically, the divisors under this system include all odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7...). But in Nepal, the first divisor is 1.4, rather than 1. This is intended to make it difficult for smaller parties to get a single seat "too cheaply" as the system benefits smaller parties at the expense of larger ones.

Eligibility to vote

To vote in the general election, one must be:[8]

  • on the electoral roll
  • aged 18
  • a citizen of Nepal
  • of sound mind
  • not ineligible as per federal election fraud and punishment laws

Timetable

The key dates are listed below

19 AugustLast day to register to be on electoral roll[9]
21 AugustCabinet announces election date
27 AugustLast day for party registration at Election Commission[10]
30 AugustElection code of conduct starts
14 OctoberTenure of Legislature parliament ends
15 OctoberParties submit preliminary closed list for proportional representation
22 OctoberCandidate nomination for first phase of first past the post
2 NovemberCandidate nomination for second phase of first past the post
19 NovemberClosed list for proportional representation finalized and published
26 NovemberElection day (first phase) – polling centres open 07:00 to 17:00
7 DecemberElection day (second phase) – polling centres open 07:00 to 17:00
14 FebruaryFinal result announced and presented to President

Parties and alliances

A total of 88 parties were granted ballot access under the proportional system. However, only 49 parties submitted list of proportional candidates.[11]

Left alliance

  CPN (UML) (57%)
  Independent political group (2.5%)

A left alliance comprising the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) and the Naya Shakti Party was announced with party unification to follow after the elections.[12] However, Naya Shakti Party left the alliance after its coordinator Baburam Bhattarai was not guaranteed an election ticket from his preferred constituency of Gorkha. He subsequently switched alliances in Gorkha. Other leftist parties like Rastriya Janamorcha and Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist–Leninist) had also joined this alliance in some constituencies.[13]

Democratic alliance

An alliance consisting of the center-left Nepali Congress, the Rastriya Prajatanra Party, the Rastriya Prajatanra Party (Democratic), Naya Shakti Party, Nepal and two Madhesh based parties, Federal Socialist Forum, Nepal and Rastriya Janata Party Nepal, was formed as a response to this left alliance.[14] Rastriya Prajatantra Party allied with the left parties to defeat Nepali Congress candidate former Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula in Jhapa-3.[15] Later two Madhesh based parties, Federal Socialist Forum, Nepal and Rastriya Janata Party Nepal left the alliance due to differences on seat sharing.

Madhesh alliance

After two Madhesh based parties, Federal Socialist Forum, Nepal and Rastriya Janata Party Nepal left the alliance due to differences on seat sharing, they formed an alliance on their own and fielded in elections.

Conduct

Before the final phase of the election, starting 5 December, the border with India was closed at 22 points.[16] There have been over a hundred minor and major explosions in the run up to the elections targeting election assemblies and leaders.[17] A temporary police was killed in Dang from an explosion at an event attended by the Prime Minister.[18] Nepali Congress candidate Narayan Karki was injured in a targeted explosion to his vehicle in Udayapur while 11 people including former Health Minister Gagan Thapa were injured from an explosion in Kathmandu.[19]

Results

Five parties, CPN (Unified Marxist-Leninst), Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Centre), Rastriya Janata Party and Federal Socialist Forum, won at least one seat in first-past-the-post voting and crossed the three percent in proportional voting and were represented in the parliament. Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Naya Shakti Party, Rastriya Janamorcha and Nepal Workers Peasants Party did not reach the three percent threshold in proportional voting and were represented as independents in the parliament.

PartyProportionalFPTPTotal
seats
Votes%SeatsVotes%Seats
Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist)3,173,49433.25413,082,27730.6880121
Nepali Congress3,128,38932.78403,590,79335.752363
Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre)[lower-alpha 1]1,303,72113.66171,510,76015.043653
Rastriya Janata Party Nepal472,2544.956458,4094.561117
Federal Socialist Forum, Nepal470,2014.936527,9245.261016
Bibeksheel Sajha Party212,3662.22096,2330.9600
Rastriya Prajatantra Party196,7822.060118,3181.1811
Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Democratic)88,3770.930123,7971.2300
Naya Shakti Party, Nepal81,8370.86084,0370.8411
Rastriya Janamorcha62,1330.65070,0140.7011
Nepal Workers Peasants Party56,1410.59052,6680.5211
CPN (Marxist–Leninist)–Jana Samajbadi Party, Nepal[lower-alpha 2]41,2700.43082,1820.8200
Nepal Federal Socialist Party36,0150.38019,0640.1900
Rastriya Janamukti Party33,0910.35027,2790.2700
Ekikrit Rastriya Prajatantrik Party (Nationalist)28,8350.30034,7650.3500
Nepali Janata Dal22,0490.2308,7500.0900
Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Manch21,6100.23017,0170.1700
Bahujan Shakti Party15,4680.16010,3820.1000
Mongol National Organisation15,1170.16016,5000.1600
Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Manch (Tharuhat)14,4890.1501210.0000
Patriotic People's Republican Front, Nepal13,9420.15019,8840.2000
Nepal Janata Party9,3100.1003,3870.0300
Janashakti Nepal7,9810.0800
Aamul Pariwartan Masiha Party Nepal5,1610.0507930.0100
Rastriya Mukti Andolan Nepal4,2750.0401,5500.0200
Nepa Rastriya Party3,4600.0402060.0000
Nepal Loktantrik Janata Congress2,3890.0308150.0100
Churebhavar Loktantrik Party2,1700.0204750.0000
Green Party Nepal1,6850.0203340.0000
Nepal Samabeshi Party1,6760.0200
Nepali Congress (B.P.)1,6080.0202,6790.0300
Nepalwad1,5470.020370.0000
Nepal Sukumbasi Party (Democratic)1,4560.0200
Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist)1,4200.0101,4400.0100
Tamangsaling Loktantrik Party1,3970.010770.0000
Nepal Yuwa Kisan Party1,3340.0101,0330.0100
Rastriya Samajwadi Party, Nepal1,0530.0103660.0000
Nepal Darshan1,0520.0100
Rastriya Yatharthawadi Party, Nepal9770.0105020.0000
Nepal Naulo Janwadi Party9760.010750.0000
Rastriya Shiva Sena Party–Rastriya Nagarik Party[lower-alpha 3]9460.0101820.0000
Yuwa Nepal Party8720.0101370.0000
Nepal Dalit Party8340.0101,0920.0100
Sanghiya Khumbuwan Democratic Party Nepal7440.0104080.0000
Deshbhakta Loktantrik Party7400.0101,2890.0100
Janaprajatantrik Party, Nepal7210.0101380.0000
Liberal Democratic Party5190.0102590.0000
Deshbhakta Samaj4340.000920.0000
Hamro Party4260.000890.0000
Nepal Loktantrik Janata Congress8150.0100
Bahujan Samaj Party Nepal7080.0100
Dalit, Muslim Janashakti Party5440.0100
Rastriya Yatharthabadi Party Nepal5020.0000
Lok Kalyankari Janta Party Nepal4960.0000
Rastriya Samajbadi Party Nepal3660.0000
Madhesh Terai Forum1520.0000
Nepali Greens780.0000
Muskan Sena Nepal220.0000
Independents73,2430.7311
Total9,544,744100.0011010,045,555100.00165275
Valid votes9,544,74490.15
Invalid/blank votes1,042,7779.85
Total votes10,587,521100.00
Registered voters/turnout15,427,73168.63
Source: Election Commission, Kathmandu Post
  1. Contested jointly with the Samajbadi Janata Party and Janajagaran Party, Nepal in the proportional vote.
  2. Ran separately in the FPTP vote; CPN (Marxist–Leninist) received 69,115 votes and the Jana Samajbadi Party, Nepal 13,067.
  3. Ran separately in the FPTP vote; Rastriya Shiva Sena Party received 157 votes and Rastriya Nagarik Party 25.

Major losses

These losses were mainly the result of formation of left alliance between CPN(UML) and CPN(Maoist Centre) which led to set back of Democratic alliance in the hill region. Similarly, FSF-N and RJP-N formed a pro-Madhesh alliance which led to its set back in Province no 2 which had remained fertile and for Congress in last decades ever since 1940's. The communist alliance later formed Nepal Communist Party while the Madhesh alliance changed to People's Socialist Party, Nepal. Both of these parties faced spit in 2021 as before due to difference in vision and ideologies.

Still, these alliances resulted in the loss of the Nepali Congress which obtained highest number of votes in FPTP, gaining nearly 36% votes cast.

In spite of this, the result went against Nepali Congress and they could not win any more than 23 seats, making it the third largest party per FPTP results. As such, many sitting ministers had to lose their seats.

Surprisingly, Bam Dev Gautam and Narayan Kaji Shrestha lost their elections even though the Communist alliance nearly obtained a majority.

Outgoing Deputy Prime Minister to lose in the election

Outgoing Cabinet Ministers to lose in the election

Former Deputy Prime Ministers to lose in the election

Aftermath

The governing Nepali Congress preferred the upper house to be elected by Single Transferable Voting System while the left parties preferred majority vote. Lack of consensus meant the Legislature Parliament disbanded on 14 October, as required by the constitution, without approving National Assembly Election Bill which included provisions to elect members of the upper house.[20]

According to Article 84 (8) of the Constitution of Nepal, at least one third of the total number of members elected to the Federal Parliament from each party must be women. Citing this provision, the Election Commission withheld announcing final results as the number of women each party needs to submit from their respective party lists could not be determined until the number of women in the upper house from each party was confirmed.

The government sent the National Assembly Election Ordinance to the President on 23 October 2017 with the provision that the upper house be elected using Single Transferable Voting System.[21] The ordinance was held by the president for two months citing lack of consensus, but was ultimately approved on 29 December 2017.[22] Another delay occurred because the electoral college for the election of the upper house includes members of the State Assemblies who, due to the absence of Chiefs of State, had not been able to take the oath of office until late January.

See also

References

  1. "Govt decides to hold provincial, parliamentary polls in two phases". The Himalayan Times. International Media Network Nepal (Pvt) Ltd. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  2. Baral, Biswas. "Why Nepal Is Still Caught in a Political Deadlock Over the Formation of Its New Government". The Wire. Foundation for Independent Journalism. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  3. "प्रधानमन्त्री ओलीका पक्षमा ७५ प्रतिशत सांसद". Setopati. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  4. Article 296 Constitution of Nepal
  5. Giri, Sanjeev. "CDC submits its report with 165 electoral constituencies". The Kathmandu Post. Kantipur Publications. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  6. Article 84 Constitution of Nepal
  7. Kafle, Narayn (5 September 2017). "स‌ंसद् र प्रदेशको निर्वाचन विधेयक पारित". Gorkhapatra. Gorkhapatra Sansthan. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  8. "Electoral Roll Act, 2017". Article 6 & 23, Act No. 23 of 2 February 2017 (PDF) (in Nepali). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 September 2017. Retrieved 5 September 2017.
  9. "प्रेश विज्ञप्ति" [Press release] (Press release) (in Nepali). Kathmandu: Election Commission. Retrieved 2017-09-03.
  10. "दल दर्ता गर्न आयोगमा ९५ वटा निवेदन". Gorkhapatraonline. Gorkhapatra Sansthan. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  11. "49 parties file closed list of PR candidates". The Himalayan Times. International Media Network Nepal (Pvt) Ltd. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  12. "Art of the impossible". Himalmedia. Retrieved 5 October 2017.
  13. "बाम गठबन्धनलाई जनमोर्चाले सघाउने". Nagarik News. Nepal Republic Media. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
  14. Dangal, Dhruba. "लोकतान्त्रिक गठबन्धनमा उत्साह". NagarikNews. Nepal Republic Media. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  15. "NC, RPP say alliance intact savefor Jhapa-3". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  16. "Nepal closes border with India for 72 hours ahead of December 7 elections". Hindustan Times. New Delhi. 5 December 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  17. Ghimire, Yubaraj. "Bomb attacks rock landmark Nepal polls". The Indian Express. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  18. "NC aggrieves death of temporary police in blast in Dang". The Himalayan Times. International Media Network Nepal (Pvt) Ltd. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  19. Bohara, Rameshwar. "विष्फोट श्रृंखलाः के सरकारमाथि नै शंका गर्नुपर्ने हो ?". Himal Khabar. Himalmedia Pvt. Ltd. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  20. "संसदको आयु सकिएसँग १९ विधेयक पनि निश्क्रिय". Dainik Nepal. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
  21. Row over National Assembly drags on Myrepublica
  22. "President authenticates National Assembly Election Ordinance". My Republica. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
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