Biratnagar, December 20

The left alliance is certain to form the government with clear majority seats both in the first-past-the-post and proportional representation systems in Province 1.

There are 14 districts and 56 provincial constituencies in the province. Though the alliance is certain to form the provincial government, the major constituent forces

are yet to finalise the chief minister.

A constituent of the alliance CPN-MC has not claimed the post of chief minister in the province but at least three CPN-UML leaders are seen as potential candidates for the post. A tough race has been speculated between UML Province 1 Coordinator Bhim Acharya, Deputy Coordinator Sherdhan Rai and central member Jeevan Ghimire.

Rai is close to party Chair KP Sharma Oli while Acharya and Ghimire are said to be close to senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal.

Of the 14 districts of the province, left alliance candidates swept the election under the first-past-the post category while Nepali Congress won five parliamentary and eight provincial seats in Morang, Sunsari and Udayapur districts.

Election was held for 28 parliamentary and 56 provincial seats in the province. A total of 22 candidates of the left alliance were elected for the parliamentary seat while five were elected from Nepali Congress, one was from the RPP and one independent candidate won a seat in the House of the Representatives.

Of the 56 seats under the first-past-the-post election system for provincial assembly, left alliance candidates won 46. Nepali Congress won 8 seats while Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal won one seat.