NEPAL: parliamentary elections Pratinidhi Sabha, 1999

NEPAL
Parliamentary Chamber: Pratinidhi Sabha

ELECTIONS HELD IN 1999

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for NEPAL <<<

Chamber:

Pratinidhi Sabha

Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):

3 May 1999
17 May 1999

Purpose of elections:

Election were held for all the seats in the House of Representatives following the premature dissolution of this body on 15 January 1999. General elections had previously been held in November 1994.

Background and outcome of elections:

On 15 January 1999, the House of Representatives was prematurely dissolved by King Birendra and general elections were announced for May. The previous month, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala (Nepali Congress Party - NCP) had formed a coalition government with the United Marxist-Leninist / Communist Party of Nepal (UML-CPN) and the Nepali Goodwill Party.
The campaign was marred by violent clashes between security forces and Maoist rebels opposing the monarchy and calling for a boycott of the poll. This insurgency, together with alleged corruption in official circles and stagnant economic development, were at the forefront of the debate, while grass-roots matters and the personalities of the candidates also weighed with the electorate. The NCP stressed that it was in the best position to ensure the stability required for improvement of the economic sector, especially the widespread poverty of the populace. Altogether 2216 candidates (including 142 women and 622 independents) and 38 parties were in the running for the House's 205 seats. Due to logistical problems in deploying security forces to guard all polling stations, voting was scheduled over two days (3 and 17 May), with elections in 36 districts for the first and 39 in the second.
In contrast to the campaign period, polling day was calm and characterized as "generally orderly and peaceful" by observers, which included teams from 17 nations. Final results gave the centrist NCP 111 seats while the social-democratic UML-CPN, led by Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal, came away with 71.
On 31 May, Mr. Krishna Prasad Bhattarai was sworn in as Prime Minister; he had already held this post in 1990-1991. An expanded Cabinet was announced on 30 June.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (3 May 1999): Elections results

Number of registered electors 13 518 839

Voters 8 894 566 (66 %)

Blank or invalid ballot papers 244 902

Valid votes 8 649 664

Round no 1: Distribution of votes

Political Group Votes %

Nepali Congress Party (NCP) 3 214 786 37.17

Nepali Communist Party (UML) 2 734 568 31.61

National Democratic Party (NDP) 902 328 10.43

Others 1 797 982 20.79

Round no 1: Distribution of seats

Political Group Total

Nepali Congress Party (NCP) 111

Nepali Communist Party (UML) 71

National Democratic Party (NDP) 11

Others 12

Distribution of seats according to sex:

Men: 189

Women: 12

Percent of women: 5.85

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for NEPAL <<<

Chamber:
	Pratinidhi Sabha
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	3 May 1999 17 May 1999
Purpose of elections:
	Election were held for all the seats in the House of Representatives following the premature dissolution of this body on 15 January 1999. General elections had previously been held in November 1994.
Background and outcome of elections:
	On 15 January 1999, the House of Representatives was prematurely dissolved by King Birendra and general elections were announced for May. The previous month, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala (Nepali Congress Party - NCP) had formed a coalition government with the United Marxist-Leninist / Communist Party of Nepal (UML-CPN) and the Nepali Goodwill Party. The campaign was marred by violent clashes between security forces and Maoist rebels opposing the monarchy and calling for a boycott of the poll. This insurgency, together with alleged corruption in official circles and stagnant economic development, were at the forefront of the debate, while grass-roots matters and the personalities of the candidates also weighed with the electorate. The NCP stressed that it was in the best position to ensure the stability required for improvement of the economic sector, especially the widespread poverty of the populace. Altogether 2216 candidates (including 142 women and 622 independents) and 38 parties were in the running for the House's 205 seats. Due to logistical problems in deploying security forces to guard all polling stations, voting was scheduled over two days (3 and 17 May), with elections in 36 districts for the first and 39 in the second. In contrast to the campaign period, polling day was calm and characterized as "generally orderly and peaceful" by observers, which included teams from 17 nations. Final results gave the centrist NCP 111 seats while the social-democratic UML-CPN, led by Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal, came away with 71. On 31 May, Mr. Krishna Prasad Bhattarai was sworn in as Prime Minister; he had already held this post in 1990-1991. An expanded Cabinet was announced on 30 June.

Round no 1 (3 May 1999): Elections results
Number of registered electors	13 518 839
Voters	8 894 566 (66 %)
Blank or invalid ballot papers	244 902
Valid votes	8 649 664

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	Votes	%
Nepali Congress Party (NCP)	3 214 786	37.17
Nepali Communist Party (UML)	2 734 568	31.61
National Democratic Party (NDP)	902 328	10.43
Others	1 797 982	20.79

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total
Nepali Congress Party (NCP)	111
Nepali Communist Party (UML)	71
National Democratic Party (NDP)	11
Others	12

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	189
Women:	12
Percent of women:	5.85