'Women not represented fairly'

BHAIRAHAWA: While women activists have been demanding 33 per cent representation in the Constituent Assembly (CA), they are unlikely to be fairly represented given the nomination of candidates by political parties.



Of a total of 903 candidates nominated by UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML from the six constituencies of Lumbini, only 171 are women. Similarly, women candidates nominated under the Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system are at the bottom on the list. [break]



NC has recommended 141 candidates under the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) and 346 candidates under PR system from Rupandehi, Nawalparasi, Kapilbastu, Palpa, Arghakhanchi, and Gulmi districts. However, only 17 percent candidates are women. Of the total 130 candidates recommended by UCPN (Maoist), only 16 percent are women. Similarly, CPN-UML has recommended 98 candidates under FPTP and 188 candidates under PR electoral system. However, only 22 per cent are women.



Former lawmaker and leader of UCPN (Maoist) Sharada Sharma has accused the party leadership of being biased toward women. “I have warned the party leadership to make the party inclusive,” said Sharma.

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