Kathmandu, April 12, 2008

The Maoists today continued with their winning streak in the Constituent Assembly election and scored several stunning upsets. The Maoists secured victory by wide margins and continue to lead in several dozen constituencies till late tonight. Initial results indicated that the Maoists could establish themselves as the largest party in the 601-member Assembly, composed 575 elected and 26 nominated members.

Analysts said the results sufficiently showed that the people wanted peace and development, which Congress or UML ‘could not deliver.’ “People voted for the Maoists wishing peace and development though threat and fear factors also played a crucial role in this regard,” Professor Krishna Pokhrel said. Out of 44 seats declared as of 10 pm, the Maoists have had the lion’s share of 28, while their rivals UML and Nepali Congress have had to do with 6 and 7 respectively.

The Maoists are also leading by respectable margins in 49 constituencies across the country, as the NC and UML trail behind, one after another. Ironically, both these parties were expecting to win a majority of the 240 seats at stake under the first-past-the-post system. Or, at least each was hoping to emerge as the single largest party, leaving the former rebels way below and far behind them.

The Maoist victory sent shock waves in the UML and Congress camps, as top leaders of both parties tumbled in their strongholds and home constituencies, from where they had been elected thrice, in some cases.

Polls dampen New Year celebrations

Kathmandu, April 12, 2008

Did you celebrate the New Year eve? Or, did it just slip out of your mind — as in the case of many others — while you were glued to radio and television sets to update yourself on the surprises of the Constituent Assembly election?

In any case, The Himalayan Times wishes you, your family and your friends a very Happy New Year 2065 BS. Almost all Nepalis and their foreign friends were caught into a completely different mood this New Year eve. Restaurants and hotels, which used to do a brisk business during the New Year festivities, say their business is quite slow this time around. So much so, it appeared like that the people did not even have time to exchange text messages through their cell phones. At most, the New Year celebrations are limited to SMSs and small get-togethers here and there.

Moreover, ban on sale of liquors also dampened the celebration mood, fun and parties a usual New Year eve used to have.

No special programme was scheduled for the New Year eve in hotels and clubs of Kathmandu. “Parties and celebrations do not have any meaning without drinks and we have no special event tonight,” said Anup Thapa, assistant food and beverage manager at Hotel De L’ Annapurna.