CA Election 2013 UML takes lead as PR ballot count begins

 In preliminary vote returns, the CPN-UML has taken a lead in proportional representation (PR) ballot-counting with a huge margin. By the time the Post went to Press, the UML had secured 7,521 votes while the Nepali Congress garnered 2,467 followed by UCPN (Maoist)’s 2,449, according to the Election Commission.

EC officials say the Rastriya Prajatantra Party stands in fourth position securing 1,500 votes in total while the RPP-Nepal has got 1,300 votes.

According to the EC, ballot counting for the PR category is over in Manang and Mustang districts while the process is under way in around half a dozen districts including Dang, Lalitpur, Kaski, Dhankuta and Palpa.

In Manang, the NC stood at the top with 1,500 votes while the RPP got 1,033 votes. The Maoists managed to secure 532 votes in the district while the UML got just 412. Of the total, 4,144 votes were valid in the district. In Mustang, of the total 5,853 votes, the NC got 1,654, the UML 1651 and the Maoists 938.

According to the EC, a party needs around 25,000 votes to get a PR seat. While 240 lawmakers will be elected from direct polls, 335 members will make into the 601-strong CA through the PR system. One hundred parties have got votes in the PR polls so far.