• NC has fielded seven, UML six and CPN-MC three women candidates for phase ll of parliamentary FPTP polls

Kathmandu, November 2

The three major parties — the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and the CPN-MC which had fielded only nine women candidates for the first phase of parliamentary first-past-the-post elections fielded only 16  women candidates for the second phase of parliamentary FPTP polls.

Among the 16 women candidates from the three major parties are seven from the NC, six from the UML, and three from the CPN-MC.

According to the Election Commission, a total of 126 women candidates representing various political parties filed their nominations for parliamentary FPTP elections and a total of 209 women candidates representing various political parties filed their nominations for provincial FPTP seats. The EC said  there could be slight changes in the number as the EC was still compiling data. NC leader Bal Krishna Khand said his party had fielded seven women candidates in the Parliamentary FPTP constituencies for the second phase of elections and that the party had fielded more than 50 per cent women candidates in the proportional representation list. “We could not field adequate number of women candidates in the Parliamentary FPTP constituencies, but we will try to ensure 33 per cent women representation through the PR election and the election to the National Assembly,” he said and added that the party did not field adequate number of FPTP women candidates also because women leaders were not eager to contest FPTP elections.

“In the two Constituent Assembly elections, we had fielded many women candidates in the FPTP elections because parties had constitutional obligation to do the same. This time they do not have such obligation,” Khand added.

UML leader Subas Chandra Nembang said his party had fielded almost 60 per cent women candidates under the PR list. He said parties had to field between 60 and 70 per cent women candidates under the PR lists to ensure 33 per cent representation of women in the Parliament.

“The constitutional provision states that if a party cannot ensure 33 per cent women representatives in the Parliament through the FPTP election and the election to the National Assembly, then that party should ensure 33 per cent representation through the PR election and National Assembly election,” Nembang said, adding the parties did not field adequate number of women candidates for FPTP poll with a view to making up for it through PR and National Assembly elections.