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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Nepal's Maoists extend poll lead | Nepal's Maoists extend poll lead |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| Nepal's Maoist party has taken a commanding lead in a landmark election to form an assembly tasked with writing a new constitution. | |
| The Maoists are reported to have about half of the 160 seats declared so far, well ahead of other parties and far more than many analysts had expected. | |
| The party now has a good chance of securing an absolute majority. | The party now has a good chance of securing an absolute majority. |
| The polls are the first to test the Maoists at the ballot box after their 10-year insurgency. | |
| The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kathmandu says this is an extraordinary vote of confidence in the Maoists. | The BBC's Charles Haviland in Kathmandu says this is an extraordinary vote of confidence in the Maoists. |
| The next largest party, the Nepali Congress, is trailing far behind with just 21 seats. | The next largest party, the Nepali Congress, is trailing far behind with just 21 seats. |
| All the top Maoist leaders have won their constituencies, mostly with large majorities. | All the top Maoist leaders have won their constituencies, mostly with large majorities. |
| Maoist leader Prachanda said he was committed to multiparty democracy | |
| The party has not just done well in the countryside, it has also won seven of the 15 seats in the Kathmandu valley. | |
| Our correspondent says the establishment parties have better democratic credentials but people regard them as stale. | Our correspondent says the establishment parties have better democratic credentials but people regard them as stale. |
| Several senior politicians have lost, including the nephew and daughter of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and the leader of the traditional second party, the Communist UML, as well as a veteran royalist and former prime minister, Surya Bahadur Thapa, who came third in his seat. | |
| There were many accounts of Maoist intimidation in the campaign period, our correspondent says, and some unconfirmed reports of the same on election day but people have given them a huge mandate in any case. | There were many accounts of Maoist intimidation in the campaign period, our correspondent says, and some unconfirmed reports of the same on election day but people have given them a huge mandate in any case. |
| The Maoist leaders have promised to continue cooperating with other parties and say they want good relations with Nepal's powerful neighbours, India and China. | The Maoist leaders have promised to continue cooperating with other parties and say they want good relations with Nepal's powerful neighbours, India and China. |
| 'Committed' | 'Committed' |
| The new assembly is expected to confirm an agreement made in December between the ruling government alliance and former rebels to abolish the 240-year-old monarchy. | The new assembly is expected to confirm an agreement made in December between the ruling government alliance and former rebels to abolish the 240-year-old monarchy. |
| The Maoists' leader, known by his nom-de-guerre, Prachanda, called the results a "victory" as he celebrated his win on Saturday in the capital, Kathmandu. | |
| Q&A: Nepal elections | Q&A: Nepal elections |
| "We are fully committed to the peace process and multiparty democracy and to rebuild this country," he said. | "We are fully committed to the peace process and multiparty democracy and to rebuild this country," he said. |
| Maoist supporters have been holding victory processions, with red vermillion powder smeared on their faces and red hammer-and-sickle flags in their hands. | Maoist supporters have been holding victory processions, with red vermillion powder smeared on their faces and red hammer-and-sickle flags in their hands. |
| The election for the 601-seat assembly is a key element in the peace deal that ended the Maoists' decade-long insurgency. | The election for the 601-seat assembly is a key element in the peace deal that ended the Maoists' decade-long insurgency. |
| Although the Maoists have not yet renounced violence, they will almost certainly now have to adjust from being a party of revolt to being a party at the heart of government, our correspondent says. | Although the Maoists have not yet renounced violence, they will almost certainly now have to adjust from being a party of revolt to being a party at the heart of government, our correspondent says. |
| Results for the 240 constituencies chosen by the first-past-the-post system are expected over the next 10 days, although another 335 seats to be elected by proportional representation are not expected to be decided for several weeks. | Results for the 240 constituencies chosen by the first-past-the-post system are expected over the next 10 days, although another 335 seats to be elected by proportional representation are not expected to be decided for several weeks. |
| The interim government is to appoint the remaining 26 seats. | The interim government is to appoint the remaining 26 seats. |
| Nepal held its first polls since 1999 following the Maoists' decision to end their armed struggle in 2006. | Nepal held its first polls since 1999 following the Maoists' decision to end their armed struggle in 2006. |
| King Gyanendra seized absolute power in 2005 but was forced to give up his authoritarian rule the following year after weeks of pro-democracy protests. | King Gyanendra seized absolute power in 2005 but was forced to give up his authoritarian rule the following year after weeks of pro-democracy protests. |
| He has since lost all his powers and his command of the army. | He has since lost all his powers and his command of the army. |