Nepal voters turn out in strength, sound death knell for monarchy

The turnout was logged at 67 percent, a figure that was unexpected given that pre-poll violence had claimed 68 lives in the past one month of electioneering.

The international community, which kept a close vigil on the process on Thursday, congratulated the Nepalese for accomplishing the historic responsibility.The 601-member Constituent Assembly will draft the constitution, an exercise that was earlier done either with the help of foreign experts or by a group of local experts.

But the constituent assembly's job does not seem to be easy. It is under directive of the interim parliament to divest King Gyanendra of all powers at its first meeting and formally end the 240-year-old institution of monarchy in Nepal. However, Kumar Regmi, president of the Constitutional Lawyers Forum in Kathmandu, said, “The CA is not obliged to carry out the decision.”

Agencies add that Maoist supremo Prachanda, who was among the first to cast his ballot, contested from Kathmandu10 constituency besides another seat in Rolpa district, a stronghold of former rebels. Prime Minister Girija Koirala, 84, did not contest under the proportionate voting system. His daughter Sujata was pitted against heavyweight president of Madhesi People’s Rights Forum Upendra Yadav.

Nepal's Chief Election Commissoner Bhojraj Pokharel said the voting was conducted in a largely peaceful manner and was postponed in 33 polling stations. The CEC said he was satisfied with the overall situation as incidents of rigging and violence were fewer than expected. He said he had received reports that two people were killed in clashes between the rival political groups, including one independent candidate who died in Sirlahi district.