KATHMANDU: The eagerly anticipated National Assembly (NA) election for vacant seats scheduled for January 25 next year has put political parties on a pre-election frenzy as they gear up for the impending showdown.

With the tenure of nine CPN-UML lawmakers in the upper house concluding in March, the party, despite being the largest in the NA, grapples with the fear of potentially losing all nine seats. This unease is fueled by the memory of the party losing seven seats in a similar election earlier.

The coalition, comprising Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (US), and JSP, faces challenges in seat allocation as the election draws near. The Nepali Congress, with its eye on past victories, aims to repeat success, especially as it gained six seats in the previous NA election where three of its lawmakers’ tenures were ending.

Similarly, CPN (Maoist Center), currently holding 15 seats in the assembly, strives to retain its positions and potentially secure more. Both CPN (US) and JSP are also determined to safeguard their existing seats while eyeing new victories.

In this election, voters from provincial assemblies, mayors, deputy mayors, and local level Chairman and Vice-Chairman will cast their votes. The voter weightage varies for lawmakers and local leaders, with a province assembly member’s vote carrying a weightage of 53, while a leader at the local level has a weightage of 19.

The ruling coalition holds a stronger position than CPN-UML in several provinces. For instance, in Koshi Province, 367 voters with a total weightage of 10,135 will participate, where the ruling coalition dominates. A similar scenario unfolds in Madesh Province with 379 voters and a total weightage of 10,839.

In Bagmati Province, the coalition government of Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Center), and CPN (US) boosts a total weightage of 10,352 against CPN-UML’s position. The coalition’s strength is evident in Gandaki Province, Lumbini Province, Karnali Province, and Sudurpaschim Province, with the ruling alliance having a higher total weightage than CPN-UML.

The Nepali Congress, as the largest party in the coalition, appears set to claim the post of Chairman of the National Assembly. Despite preparations for the election, leaders from the coalition parties express their commitment to contesting without breaking the partnership. Meanwhile, CPN-UML is likely to take an independent stance in the upcoming election.