KATHMANDU, NOV 22 - Shocked by the “unexpected” election results, the UCPN (Maoist) on Thursday said the vote was rigged and that it needs to be investigated and reviewed. Election observers have, however, hailed the polls as largely fair and peaceful.
Demanding that the vote counting process be immediately stopped, top party leaders said they will not be part of the new Constituent Assembly if their demand is ignored.
At a press conference at the party headquarters here, Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said his party wants a 'serious review' and investigations into the counting process. He, however, said his party has not demanded re-counting or re-polling.
A leader close to Dahal said the party has no option now but to accept the results. Voting returns on Wednesday and Thursday showed the Maoists trailing far behind the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML.
The party on Wednesday night directed all its leaders and cadres to boycott vote counting. Votes are now being counted without Maoist representatives across the country.
Without elaborating, the party alleged “international” meddling in the entire election process and claimed that ballot boxes were tampered with while being taken to the counting stations immediately after the vote.
“We are ready to accept the people's mandate, but it does not mean that we will accept fraud and conspiracy,” Dahal said.
The UCPN (Maoist) is planning to review the poor poll show in the party's Central Committee (CC). Leaders pointed out some outstanding issues that led to the party not faring well. “During the initial poll campaign, local cadres had suggested that the leadership go for elections only after the party re-unites (with the breakaway CPN-Maoist), but the leaders turned down such a recommendation,” said a leader close to Dahal, admitting that the party's split in June had a big hand in the poor performance.
Another reason leaders said was the widespread dissatisfaction among core and committed cadres. “After joining peaceful politics, we failed to manage and provide employment to a large number of committed youths. A majority of them either remained passive or left the party,” said CC member Khag Raj Bhatta. “There was also a deep communication gap between the party and the people.”
At a press conference at the party headquarters here, Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal said his party wants a 'serious review' and investigations into the counting process. He, however, said his party has not demanded re-counting or re-polling.
A leader close to Dahal said the party has no option now but to accept the results. Voting returns on Wednesday and Thursday showed the Maoists trailing far behind the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML.
The party on Wednesday night directed all its leaders and cadres to boycott vote counting. Votes are now being counted without Maoist representatives across the country.
Without elaborating, the party alleged “international” meddling in the entire election process and claimed that ballot boxes were tampered with while being taken to the counting stations immediately after the vote.
“We are ready to accept the people's mandate, but it does not mean that we will accept fraud and conspiracy,” Dahal said.
The UCPN (Maoist) is planning to review the poor poll show in the party's Central Committee (CC). Leaders pointed out some outstanding issues that led to the party not faring well. “During the initial poll campaign, local cadres had suggested that the leadership go for elections only after the party re-unites (with the breakaway CPN-Maoist), but the leaders turned down such a recommendation,” said a leader close to Dahal, admitting that the party's split in June had a big hand in the poor performance.
Another reason leaders said was the widespread dissatisfaction among core and committed cadres. “After joining peaceful politics, we failed to manage and provide employment to a large number of committed youths. A majority of them either remained passive or left the party,” said CC member Khag Raj Bhatta. “There was also a deep communication gap between the party and the people.”
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