Kathmandu: Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has stated that proportional representation should be ensured within the direct election system. He made these remarks while receiving a memorandum from a delegation led by Bhakta Bishwakarma, Chairman of the Nepal Voter Rights Forum, at his residence in Budhanilkantha. The memorandum addressed amendments to the draft of the ‘Bill to Amend and Consolidate Laws Related to Elections’. President Deuba expressed that proportional representation is crucial within direct elections as it establishes a direct connection with the electorate.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Deuba emphasized the importance of consulting with his party and other political parties about the proposed amendments to the election bill. He highlighted that the direct election system serves as the primary means for engaging with the public, yet proportional participation is also necessary within this framework.
The memorandum submitted by Bishwakarma consisted of 21 points, emphasizing the need for at least 50 percent of candidates to be women in the direct election system for both the House of Representatives and the Provincial Assembly, to promote gender and community inclusion. It also criticized the proposal to replace Dalit women with minority women, arguing that it would unjustly deprive Dalit women of their political rights and called for its immediate removal.
Additionally, the memorandum demanded that 50 percent of constituencies in the First Past the Post-election system be reserved for women, and 13 percent for Dalits, through a rotational allocation system for constituencies designated for women and Dalits.