Kathmandu, September 29

Ruling CPN-UML today proposed 79 out of 165 constituencies under first-past-the-post election system for 20 districts of Tarai-Madhes.

Agitating Madhes-based parties are demanding delimitation of the electoral constituencies mainly on the basis of population and the CPN-UML’s proposal is close to meeting one of their demands.

According to the document titled ‘Nepal’s Constitution and Future Responsibilities’ issued to the UML leaders and cadres participating in today’s national cadres’ gathering, 79 seats under FPTP election system will be allocated to 20 districts of Tarai-Madhes. Only 86 FPTP seats have been allocated for the remaining 55 districts situated in hills and the mountain regions.

As per the report, UML has proposed Saint Lague Method for delineating election constituencies on the basis of population. According to this method, Morang will have the highest number of constituencies -- six -- among the 20 districts in Tarai-Madhes. Jhapa, Sarlahi, Rupandehi and Kailali will have five constituencies each and Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, and Nawalparasi will have four each.

Districts having three constituencies are Chitwan, Kapilbastu, Dang, Banke and Kanchanpur, while Bardiya will have only two constituencies, the lowest among the districts of Tarai-Madhes.

Among the hilly districts, Kathmandu, being the most populated district, will have 10 constituencies and those having three constituencies are Lalitpur and Kaski only.

As many as 33 districts of mountainous and hilly regions will have only one constituency each.

Seats under PR system

The CPN-UML has stated that Province No 1, having 17.12 per cent of nation’s population, will have 19 seats under Proportional Representation system.

Province No 2 with 20.4 pc of population will get 22 PR seats; Province No 3 with 20.87 pc will get 23 seats; Province No 4 with 11.75 pc of Nepal’s population will get 13 PR seats.

Province No 5 with 15.41 pc of Nepal’s population will get 17 PR seats; Province No 6 with 4.82 pc of the country’s population will get five seats and Province No 7 with 9.63 pc will get 11 PR seats.