Kathmandu, December 13
Owing to the very low number of women leaders elected under the first-past-the-post system, the CPN-UML and the CPN-Maoist Centre may have to send women only for proportional representation seats they get in the House of Representatives.
Two women–Pabitra Niraula Kharel and Padma Kumari Aryal–have won the FPTP polls from UML whereas there are three in the Maoist Centre–Kamala Rokka, Bina Magar and Pampha Bhusal.
Election laws have it that each party represented in the House has to have at least 33 per cent women among their lawmakers.
For example, if the vote counting trend of PR elections remains same till the end, the UML will get around 40 seats under the PR system. It will make the party’s strength in House at around 120. Of that, the party has to have at least around 40 women. But, because there are only two women elected under the FPTP system, others have to be elected under the PR system.
Because the Congress has fewer lawmakers elected under the FPTP system, it is likely to have more flexibility in choosing PR lawmakers.
The exact number of seats each party have and the proportionate number of women lawmakers will be decided by the Election Commission after the conclusion of counting.
