General elections were held in Nepal on 9 May 1981 to elect members of the Rastriya Panchayat. 80% of the seats were elected through adult universal suffrage; this was the first election through universal suffrage held in Nepal in 22 years. However, political parties were banned at the time, and the main underground opposition forces (the Nepali Congress and various communist groups) called for a boycott of the election.[1]
In 1980, a referendum to continue the Panchayat system was held and approved. In December, an amendment to the constitution was passed by King Birendra creating direct elections and allowing for the election of the prime minister.[2]
The election were the first to be held after the constitutional amendment. In total there were 112 elected seats, whilst 28 were appointed by the King. According to official reports, 63% of the eligible voters took part in the polls. However, there were some inconsistencies in the report of voting numbers.[3] Voter turnout was 52.2%.[4] There were 7,793,119 eligible voters for this election.[2]
Constituenciesedit
40 out of the 75 districts of Nepal formed two-member constituencies whilst the less populated 35 districts formed single-member constituencies.[5] The 15 mountain districts were all single-member constituencies. The hill districts elected 57 seats, the inner-terai districts eight seats and the terai districts 32 seats.[6]
Campaignedit
Initially there were 1,451 total candidates, of whom 353 later withdrew.[6] The 122 seats in the Rastriya Panchayat were contested by 1,096 candidates.[7] Virtually all candidates campaigned on slogans such as "God and Motherhood", portraying themselves as opponents of corruption and inflation.[8] With the absence of organized political parties in the election, the campaign was rather low-scale. Mass rallies were not held, not even in Kathmandu. Most candidates relied heavily on door-to-door campaigning and canvassing through family, caste and ethnic networks. Candidates also used posters and vehicles with loudspeakers.[1] The spending ceiling of each candidate was fixed at 30,000 Nepalese rupees.[6]
Candidates had to pay a security deposit of 1,500 Nepalese rupees in order to contest the election.[6]
Resultsedit
Party
Votes
%
Seats
Independents
3,855,525
100.00
112
Appointeees
28
Total
3,855,525
100.00
140
Valid votes
3,855,525
94.53
Invalid/blank votes
223,118
5.47
Total votes
4,078,643
100.00
Registered voters/turnout
7,811,448
52.21
Source: Nohlen et al., IPU
The incumbent prime minister, Surya Bahadur Thapa, contested and was elected from the Dhankuta district. He got 40,546 votes in total. Two pre-panchayat prime ministers contested the election, Matrika Prasad Koirala and Dr. K.I. Singh. Matrika Prasad Koirala contested in the Morang district. He was supported, unofficially, by Surya Bahadur Thapa. Koirala did however lose the election, whilst K.I. Singh was elected.[10]
Overall, the result was a setback for the ruling elite. Although all candidates were officially independents, various candidates were well known as having the backing of the government. In total about 70% of the "official" candidates lost their seats. In the elected Rastriya Panchayat, there were 57 newcomers to the assembly.[8]
The defeats of the government endorsed side was partially due to divisions inside the government endorsed camp. In Morang district the royal house and the prime minister supported opposing candidates, eventually resulting in the defeat for both.
The candidate who received the highest number of votes was Hem Bahadur Malla, a cabinet minister. Malla got 76,720 votes. The elected member with the lowest number of votes was Tej Bahadur Bham, who got 3,137 votes.[10] independent supporters of reintroducing parliamentary democracy who were elected were Arjun Narsingh K.C., Prakash Chandra Lohani and Shribhadra Sharma.[10]
Whilst the Nepali Congress leadership had called for boycott, the dissident fraction led by Bakhan Singh Gurung had launched 36 candidates. Four of them were elected; Dr. K.I. Singh, Bakhan Singh Gurung, Kashi Nath Gautam and Bhagwat Yadav. The pro-Soviet Communist Party led by Keshar Jung Rayamajhi had launched over 45-50 candidates, but none got elected.[8][10]
The Chhetri were the largest ethnic group in the Rastriya Panchayat with 41 members elected.[11] Twenty-eight women candidates contested the election, out of whom two were elected; Nani Mainya Dahal and Bhadra Kumari Ghale.[10] Dahal, a relatively unknown person in Nepalese politics at the time, swept the Kathmandu district polls. Her election was seen as a mistrust vote against the establishment.[8]
^ abcdPanday, Devendra Raj. Nepal in 1981: Stagnation Amidst Change, published in Asian Survey, Vol. 22, No. 2, A Survey of Asia in 1981: Part II, (Feb., 1982), pp. 155-162.
1981, nepalese, general, election, general, elections, were, held, nepal, 1981, elect, members, rastriya, panchayat, seats, were, elected, through, adult, universal, suffrage, this, first, election, through, universal, suffrage, held, nepal, years, however, po. General elections were held in Nepal on 9 May 1981 to elect members of the Rastriya Panchayat 80 of the seats were elected through adult universal suffrage this was the first election through universal suffrage held in Nepal in 22 years However political parties were banned at the time and the main underground opposition forces the Nepali Congress and various communist groups called for a boycott of the election 1 Contents 1 Background 2 Constituencies 3 Campaign 4 Results 5 See also 6 References 7 Works citedBackground editIn 1980 a referendum to continue the Panchayat system was held and approved In December an amendment to the constitution was passed by King Birendra creating direct elections and allowing for the election of the prime minister 2 The election were the first to be held after the constitutional amendment In total there were 112 elected seats whilst 28 were appointed by the King According to official reports 63 of the eligible voters took part in the polls However there were some inconsistencies in the report of voting numbers 3 Voter turnout was 52 2 4 There were 7 793 119 eligible voters for this election 2 Constituencies edit40 out of the 75 districts of Nepal formed two member constituencies whilst the less populated 35 districts formed single member constituencies 5 The 15 mountain districts were all single member constituencies The hill districts elected 57 seats the inner terai districts eight seats and the terai districts 32 seats 6 Campaign editInitially there were 1 451 total candidates of whom 353 later withdrew 6 The 122 seats in the Rastriya Panchayat were contested by 1 096 candidates 7 Virtually all candidates campaigned on slogans such as God and Motherhood portraying themselves as opponents of corruption and inflation 8 With the absence of organized political parties in the election the campaign was rather low scale Mass rallies were not held not even in Kathmandu Most candidates relied heavily on door to door campaigning and canvassing through family caste and ethnic networks Candidates also used posters and vehicles with loudspeakers 1 The spending ceiling of each candidate was fixed at 30 000 Nepalese rupees 6 70 of the candidates in the election previously ran in the 1959 election Of those candidates 29 ran as independents 18 for the Nepali Congress 8 for the Samyukta Prajatantra Party 6 for the Nepal Rashtrabadi Gorkha Parishad 6 for the Praja Parishad and 1 for the Tarai Congress 17 of the candidates won in the 1981 election 9 6 Candidates had to pay a security deposit of 1 500 Nepalese rupees in order to contest the election 6 Results editPartyVotes SeatsIndependents3 855 525100 00112Appointeees28Total3 855 525100 00140Valid votes3 855 52594 53Invalid blank votes223 1185 47Total votes4 078 643100 00Registered voters turnout7 811 44852 21Source Nohlen et al IPUThe incumbent prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa contested and was elected from the Dhankuta district He got 40 546 votes in total Two pre panchayat prime ministers contested the election Matrika Prasad Koirala and Dr K I Singh Matrika Prasad Koirala contested in the Morang district He was supported unofficially by Surya Bahadur Thapa Koirala did however lose the election whilst K I Singh was elected 10 Overall the result was a setback for the ruling elite Although all candidates were officially independents various candidates were well known as having the backing of the government In total about 70 of the official candidates lost their seats In the elected Rastriya Panchayat there were 57 newcomers to the assembly 8 The defeats of the government endorsed side was partially due to divisions inside the government endorsed camp In Morang district the royal house and the prime minister supported opposing candidates eventually resulting in the defeat for both The candidate who received the highest number of votes was Hem Bahadur Malla a cabinet minister Malla got 76 720 votes The elected member with the lowest number of votes was Tej Bahadur Bham who got 3 137 votes 10 independent supporters of reintroducing parliamentary democracy who were elected were Arjun Narsingh K C Prakash Chandra Lohani and Shribhadra Sharma 10 Whilst the Nepali Congress leadership had called for boycott the dissident fraction led by Bakhan Singh Gurung had launched 36 candidates Four of them were elected Dr K I Singh Bakhan Singh Gurung Kashi Nath Gautam and Bhagwat Yadav The pro Soviet Communist Party led by Keshar Jung Rayamajhi had launched over 45 50 candidates but none got elected 8 10 Some independent leftwing candidates were elected such as Govinda Nath Upreti Kavre Rup Chandra Bista Makwanpur and Karna Bahadur Hyuju Bhaktapur The Chhetri were the largest ethnic group in the Rastriya Panchayat with 41 members elected 11 Twenty eight women candidates contested the election out of whom two were elected Nani Mainya Dahal and Bhadra Kumari Ghale 10 Dahal a relatively unknown person in Nepalese politics at the time swept the Kathmandu district polls Her election was seen as a mistrust vote against the establishment 8 See also editList of members elected in the 1981 Nepalese general electionReferences edit a b Shaha Rishikesh Politics in Nepal 1980 1990 New Delhi Manohar Publications 1990 p 106 107 a b Upreti 1991 p 380 Shaha Rishikesh Politics in Nepal 1980 1990 New Delhi Manohar Publications 1990 p 110 Dieter Nohlen Florian Grotz amp Christof Hartmann 2001 Elections in Asia A data handbook Volume I p634 ISBN 0 19 924958 X Shaha Rishikesh Politics in Nepal 1980 1990 New Delhi Manohar Publications 1990 p 108 a b c d e Gurung Harka The Sociology of Elections in Nepal 1959 to 1981 published in Asian Survey Vol 22 No 3 Mar 1982 pp 304 314 Upreti 1991 p 381 a b c d Panday Devendra Raj Nepal in 1981 Stagnation Amidst Change published in Asian Survey Vol 22 No 2 A Survey of Asia in 1981 Part II Feb 1982 pp 155 162 Upreti 1991 p 381 382 a b c d e Shaha Rishikesh Politics in Nepal 1980 1990 New Delhi Manohar Publications 1990 p 111 Upreti 1991 p 383 Works cited editUpreti B ed 1991 Nation Building in South Asia Vol 2 University of Rajasthan ISBN 81 7003 130 3 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1981 Nepalese general election amp oldid 1145910556, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
