Kathmandu: The governing Nepali Congress led by PM Sher Bahadur Deuba on Sunday maintained its lead as the single largest party by winning 53 seats in the parliamentary polls held to end the prolonged political instability that has plagued the Himalayan nation.
Elections to the House of Representatives and seven provincial assemblies were held on November 20. The counting of votes started on Monday last. Nepali Congress has won 53 seats and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) (CPN-UML) secured 42 seats in the elections. The CPN Maoist has emerged as the third largest party with 17 seats while the CPN-Unified Socialist has bagged 10 seats.
The newly-formed Rastriya Swatantra Party and pro-Hindu Rastriya Praja-tantra Party have won 7 seats each. Independent and other smaller parties have emerged victorious on 21 seats.
The governing five-party alliance has won 85 seats, against 55 seats won by the alliance led by CPN-UML. The governing alliance includes Nepali Congress led by Deuba, CPN-Maoist led by Pushpakamal Dahal Prachanda, CPN-Unified Socialist headed by Madhav Nepal, Mahantha Thakur's Lokatantrik Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janamorcha led by Chitra Bahadur.
