KATHMANDU: The CPN-UML, long regarded as one of the central pillars of Nepali politics, appears to be heading toward a significant setback following the House of Representatives election held on March 5.
Early vote count trends indicate that the party, which carries a political legacy of nearly seven decades, could face one of its weakest performances in history.
Since the 1991 parliamentary election, the UML had remained a major competitor to the Nepali Congress. Although it suffered a major decline during the 2008 Constituent Assembly election after the rise of the Maoists, the party later regained strength following splits within the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre).
However, preliminary vote counting in the current election suggests the UML could once again face a humiliating defeat.
In Jhapa Constituency No. 5, party chairman and former prime minister KP Sharma Oli is trailing far behind Balen Shah of the Rastriya Swatantra Party. Shah has secured 10,190 votes, while Oli has received 4,087 votes so far.
Similarly, in Kathmandu Constituency No. 5, former UML senior vice-chair Ishwar Pokhrel is currently in third place in the preliminary count.
According to the latest figures, Sasmit Pokhrel has secured 9,124 votes, followed by Pradeep Paudel of the Nepali Congress with 2,887 votes, while Pokhrel has garnered 1,558 votes.
Another UML vice-chair, Bishnu Paudel, is also trailing significantly in Rupandehi Constituency No. 2. In that constituency, Sulav Kharel has secured 10,519 votes, while Paudel has received 2,193 votes so far.
Likewise, UML leader and former Speaker Devraj Ghimire is trailing in Jhapa Constituency No. 2. According to early results, Indira Rana Magar has secured 3,395 votes, while Ghimire has received 1,310 votes.
Similarly, UML secretary Mahesh Basnet is also behind in Bhaktapur Constituency No. 2. The latest count shows Rajiv Khatri leading with 4,084 votes, while Basnet has received 1,819 votes.
Meanwhile, the results from constituencies where UML General Secretary Shankar Pokhrel is contesting in Dang Constituency No. 2, and where senior leader Prithvi Subba Gurung is contesting in Lamjung, are yet to be announced.
Nationwide preliminary trends currently show the UML leading in only five constituencies, placing it in second position, while the Rastriya Swatantra Party is leading in 46 constituencies and has already secured victory in one seat.
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