Maoists trumped in Nepal elections. Victory for Congress democrats
by Kalpit Parajuli
The results are preliminary, but exit polls point to third place for the Unified Communist Party of Nepal ( UCPN -M ). Victory for Congress Party (Socialist and Democrat) , followed by the Communist Party. Prachanda , Maoist leader, announces they “do not accept the vote".

Kathmandu ( AsiaNews) - From once the largest party in the country to a small minority : the Maoists of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal ( UCPN -M ) have lost the elections for the Constituent Assembly . According to provisional results, the Congress Party ( Socialist Party and Democrat) won a majority in almost all constituencies , followed by the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist , UML ) . The UCPN- M of Pushpakamal Dahal, more commonly known as Prachanda , is struggling to win the third place.

In a press conference, Prachanda announced they will not accept the result: "A conspiracy was organized against the Maoists". The political leader also demanded a halt to the counting of votes , threatening to boycott the drafting of the new democratic constitution.

Despite the violence of recent days, there is an atmosphere of calm in Nepal. Nilkantha Upreti , President of the Electoral Commission , told AsiaNews that "the elections were conducted in a peaceful manner , and that's good . We will investigate for errors , but we will not stop the process and declare the results as soon as the counting of the votes is complete".

The international community has lauded the "peaceful conduct of the elections". "The new Constituent Assembly - said the spokesman for Ban Ki- moon, Secretary General of the United Nations - will have the historical responsibility of completing a new constitution, based on the impressive successes thus far, and as a result promoting national dialogue and genuine reconciliation " .

The elections took place after five years of political chaos and four coalition governments, who have continuously postponed the drafting of a democratic constitution, after centuries of Hindu monarchy .