Maoists headed towards simple majority

Kathmandu, Apr 14 (UNI) The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) has been leading in 98 out of 180 seats for which results have been declared so far in the historic Constituent Assembly (CA)polls held for the first time to write a new constitution and decide the fate of monarchy in the Himalayan nation.

Nepali Congress (NC) is in second place with 30 seats while the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) is in the third spot by bagging 25 seats.

The regional Terai Party, the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (MJF) led by Upendra Yadav, has secured 17 seats and the remaining seats has gone to other smaller parties.

Most of the big names in Congress and UML party have been defeated, including the acting president of the Nepali Congress Sushil Koirala, Prime Minister's daughter Sujata Koirala, Home Minister Krishna Sitaula and General Secretary of the UML Madhav Kumar Nepal, former prime minister Surya Bahaudr Thapa, President of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Pashupati Shumsher JB Rana and former deputy prime minister KP Oli.

Former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has won election from both constituencies in Dadeldhura and Kanchanpur district.

No other candidate supporting the monarchy has been able to open their accounts in the elections so far.

UNI XC ARB SZ RN1442