Representation of marginalized groups in HoR weakens

Kathmandu, March 12: The results of the March 5 election to the House of Representatives have been made public of both the first-past-the-post (FPTP) and proportional representation (PR) system. 

Accordingly, the Rastriya Swatantra Party came first, the Nepali Congress came second, the CPN (UML) third, and the Nepali Communist Party came fourth.

The results so far shows a very weak representation of the marginalized groups, with only 14 people of 165 (8.48 percent) directly elected. There are 26 indigenous (15.76 percent), 28 Madhesi (16.97 percent), five Tharu (3.3 percent), four Muslim (2.42 percent), and one Dalit (0.61 percent) elected through the FPTP system.

Looking at Dalit representation in this election, the Nepali Congress had fielded only one candidate from the Dalit community as Joint General Secretary Prakash Rasaili from Bajhang. The UML had fielded Chakra Snehi as a candidate from Dadeldhura and Bimala BK as a candidate from Bardiya-2.

Similarly, the Nepali Communist Party had fielded Padam Bishwakarma from Syangja-2 and Man Bahadur Sunar from Kanchanpur-3. The RSP had given tickets to Khagendra Sunar from Banke-3. Of them, only Khagendra Sunar has won.(RSS)