Five parties on track to become national parties

KATHMANDU: With around 25 percent of votes counted nationwide under the proportional representation (PR) system, only five political parties appear to be on track to secure recognition as national parties.

According to the latest data released by the Election Commission Nepal, the Rastriya Swatantra Party, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Nepali Communist Party, and Rastriya Prajatantra Party have crossed the three-percent threshold required under the PR system.

To gain recognition as a national party in the House of Representatives, a party must secure at least one seat through the first-past-the-post system and obtain at least three percent of the total votes under proportional representation.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party, Nepali Congress and CPN-UML have already met the requirements to be recognized as national parties. Having surpassed the three-percent threshold in proportional votes and won direct seats, they are certain to retain national party status once the counting concludes.

The Nepali Communist Party has so far secured about 6.5 percent of the votes, though its final standing will depend on results from the remaining constituencies.

Out of an estimated 11 million votes cast nationwide, a party needs more than 300,000 votes to cross the threshold. The NCP has currently received around 166,000 votes.

Similarly, the Rastriya Prajatantra Party has obtained around 3.5 percent of the votes, or approximately 91,000 votes. The party will need to maintain this ratio in the remaining vote count to ensure national party recognition. Both the NCP and RPP have already won at least one seat through direct elections.

Meanwhile, the Shram Sanskriti Party Nepal is close to the threshold required for national party recognition. Party chairman Harka Sampang, who is contesting from Sunsari-1, is currently leading, with vote counting nearing completion.

However, in proportional representation, the party will need a higher share of votes to cross the required threshold, as it has so far secured only about two percent of the votes.