Constituent Assembly (CA) 10 Feb elected Sushil Koirala of Nepali Congress (NC) new PM with 405 out of 601 votes after political parties failed to agree on consensus PM. Koirala 25 Feb formed cabinet, 10 members each from NC and main coalition partner Communist Party of Nepal (CPN-UML), latter awarded home and foreign ministries. CPN-UML’s Subash Chandra Nem- bang elected CA chair 18 Feb; appointment supported by NC.

Newly elected Constituent Assembly (CA) members sworn in 21 Jan, 2 months after elections, amid sit-in protest by 3 dozen UCPN-Maoist MPs; party leaders 22 Jan vowed to draw up new constitution within year. Differences between Nepali Congress (NC) and Communist Party of Nepal Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) concerning new presidential elections resolved after Supreme Court 24 Jan ruled interim president could remain in place until constitution formation. Leading party NC started negotiations on power sharing and distributing key CA posts with runner-up in elections CPN-UML. President Yadav 26 Jan pressed political parties to form consensus govt in 7 days. Sushil Koirala seen as most likely next PM following appointment as NC leader 26 Jan. Supreme Court 3 Jan ruled serious human rights violations may not be covered by amnesties in future truth and reconciliation commission.

Official results of 19 Nov elections for new Constituent Assembly (CA) 3 Dec: Nepali Congress Party (NCP) won largest share of CA seats (196 out of 601); Communist Party of Nepal Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) won 175 seats, United Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M) 80 seats. 8 major political parties reached deal 23 Dec to bring UCPN-M-led par- ties into CA. 4-point deal includes: parliamentary committee to investigate “questions raised” about CA election (response to UCPN-M and others alleging fraud); new constitution to be drafted in 6 months in spirit of Oct 2005 12-point agreement, Nov 2006 Comprehensive Peace Agreement, 2007 Interim Constitution, promulgated in a year; high-level political mechanism to help complete peace process, constitution-writing; Truth and Reconcili- ation and Enforced Disappearances Commissions to be formed. CPN-UML 5 Dec formally demanded election of presidential and vice-presidential posts, NC said president’s term not negotiable under interim constitution. Splinter communist group Commu- nist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) 17 Dec declared “12-point Agreement in 2005 and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2007 stand annulled”, said “new understanding” must be reached.

Elections for new Constituent Assembly (CA) held 19 Nov with little violence, turnout close to 70%, after dissenting groups, including breakaway Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN- M), enforced shutdown days before polls but refrained from using violence or obstructing vote. Domestic and international monitors 21 Nov said elections “free and fair”. Near-complete results 28 Nov indicate lead for Nepali Congress and United Marxist Leninist (UML), unexpected major losses for Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (UCPN-M), coming in distant third, and for Madhesi parties. UCPN-M, Madhesi People’s Rights Forum-Nepal and Federal Socialist Party 20-22 Nov claimed elections were rigged, boycotted counting. Parties did not present evidence but 27 Nov submitted request to Election Commission to probe irregularities. UCPN-M demanding constitutional amendment for consensus govt, NC and UML refuse. UML 26 Nov demanded parliament elect new president.

Ahead of 19 Nov Constituent Assembly (CA) elections unidentified gunmen 4 Oct killed Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML) candidate Mohammad Alam in Bara. Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) 2 Oct said “foreign power centres” caused Sept failure of talks to include CPN-M in elections; party vowed to “actively boycott” elections: 19 Oct enforced strike in 3 western districts, banned other parties from campaigning in Bardiya district. Party cadres engaged in numerous low-intensity clashes; 5 UCPN Maoist cadres seriously injured after 20 Oct clash with Nepali Congress cadre in Aathbiskot. Army deployed over 60,000 soldiers to maintain order during polls.

Constituent Assembly (CA) 19 Nov elections expected to go ahead despite 17 Sept failure of all-party talks to bring 33-party anti-election alliance, led by Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M), on board; process failed after major parties refused core CPN-M demands including postponing election date and resignation of head of govt Khila Raj Regmi from chief justice post. Alliance 12 Sept organized strikes in Kathmandu to protest elections. Interim govt 17 Sept continued CA election preparation: on govt request, president Ram Baran Yadav issued presidential decrees 17 Sept to maintain CA size at 601 seats, 24 Sept to allow deployment of army to secure elections. CPN-M General Secretary Ram Bahadur Thapa 24 Sept warned of second armed conflict if army is deployed.

All-party talks began 24 Aug between 33-party anti-election alliance led by Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) and HLPC, collapsed within minutes. CPN-M continues to demand govt’s resignation, dissolution of High Level Political Committee (HLPC); CPN-M strategy uncertain but its leaders urge boycott of polls. Deal on elections reached 15 Aug between HLPC and opposition Federal Democratic Forum, comprising Madhesi People’s Rights Forum-Nepal and 7 other small parties: parties agreed to join elections, proportional representation/first-past-the-post ratio restored to last election ratio (335/240). Ashok Rai-led Federal Socialist Party not part of deal, but remains open to negotiation. Parents of war victim Krishna Adhikari fast-unto-death for justice in 5th week; govt ordered force feeding, doctors say unethical; case could have consequences for elections. 70 ex-Maoist rebel fighters 26 Aug joined national army as officers, fulfilling key component of 2006 peace deal.

Major parties in High Level Political Mechanism called breakaway Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) and other parties for talks to address concerns about Nov elections and enable broad participation; issued “last call” 29 July; breakaway CPN-M and allies initially appeared willing, but finally rejected talks. Alliance comprising CPN-M and smaller identity-based parties Federal Democratic Forum and Federal Socialist Party Nepal 25 July announced efforts to disrupt Nov Constituent assembly polls. Supreme Court 23 July issued stay on implementation of Election Commission (EC) decision to link voter registration with possession of citizenship card. Constituency delimitation committee’s term extended again to 5 Aug after it failed to draw new constituencies. EC 11 July approved code of conduct for parties during election.

Interim Election Council of Ministers (IECM) 13 June announced Constituent Assembly (CA) elections for19 Nov, formed Constituency Delimitation Commission to redraw constituencies per 2011 census. Election-related ordinance issued despite parties disagreeing on some provisions: removing proposed thresholdof 1% of total votes for parties to win proportional repesentation (PR) seats, retaining provision barring convicted criminals from contesting elections. 42 parties led by breakaway Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) 16 June enforced nationwide strike calling election date announcement unilateral and demanding its withdrawal. CPN-M demanding resignation of IECM, did not register with Election Commission. Other dissenting Madhesi and ethnic parties demand restoring number of PR seats, reduced from 335 for 2008 election to 240. Several Madhesi  parties discussed forming electoral alliances.

Date for Constituent Assembly (CA) elections still not set; parties disagree on electoral provisions, composition of new CA. Breakaway Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) 10 May set preconditions for talks with govt about elections, including withdrawal of 13 March 25-point presidential decree enabling interim govt formation. CPN-M continued obstructing voter registration, citizenship distribution; 5 injured in 15 May clashes in Surkhet between CPN-M cadres, police. Nepali Congress and Unified Marxist-Leninist 26 May demanded Interim Election Council Chairman Khil Raj Regmi’s resignation as chief justice to appease parties opposed to current election framework. 8 May appointment as chief of Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority of Lokman Singh Karki, found guilty of suppressing 2006 People’s Movement, protested by some Kathmandu civil society, political actors. Muslim former CA member Sadrul Miya Haque killed 21 May by unidentified assailant.