Nepalese governmental system referendum, 1980
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On May 2, 1980 a national referendum was held in Nepal, in which the voters could chose between a non-party panchayat system and a multiparty system. The non-party panchayat system got a majority support of 54.7% of the valid votes.
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[edit] Background
With the backdrop of mass student protests against his rule in the spring of 1979, King Birendra made a public declaration on May 23, 1979 that a referendum with universal adult suffrage with secret vote would be held in which the people of Nepal would be able to choose between introducing a multiparty system or retain the non-party panchayat regime.[1]
On January 21, 1980, King Birendra published the Referendum Rules, stating that after the referendum 'His Majesty shall make such provisions in the Constitution of Nepal as may deem necessary'.[2]
[edit] Method of voting
The voters would mark their choice by stamping either of two colours on the ballot paper, blue for the multiparty system and yellow for the non-party panchayat system. It was speculated at the time that the choice of colours had not been coincidental, since the yellow colour was associated with saintly religious qualities. There is no empirical evidence though, that the choice of colours affected the outcome of the vote.[3]
[edit] Results
| Region | Votes for Panchayat System |
% | Votes for Multiparty System |
% | Valid votes |
Invalid votes |
% | Total votes |
Participation | Registered voters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plains (18 districts) |
848754 | 44.6% | 938162 | 55.4% | 1897715 | 169041 | 8.1% | 2066753 | 75.2% | 2747237 |
| Inter-Tarai (5 districts) |
87895 | 34.0% | 139021 | 66.0% | 258135 | 20645 | 7.4% | 278780 | 64.3% | 433233 |
| Hills (37 districts) |
1126169 | 57.2% | 844124 | 48.8% | 1967295 | 158581 | 7.4% | 2127615 | 61.4% | 3461068 |
| Mountains (15 districts) |
228617 | 71.1% | 86658 | 28.9% | 321275 | 25061 | 7.3% | 340338 | 61.2% | 555913 |
| Total | 2433452 | 54.7% | 2007965 | 45.3% | 4441417 | 372062 | 7.7% | 4813486 | 66.9% | 7192451 |
The panchayat partyless system option got a majority in 54 out of the 75 districts of Nepal. The highest percentage of pro-panchayat votes was recorded in Dolpo (96.4%), the lowest in Bhaktapur (34.4%). The highest scores for the multiparty system option were recorded in Bhaktapur (65.6%), Udaipur (65.1%), Siraha (64%) and Bardiya (62.1%). In general, the multiparty system option received higher scored in areas with higher literacy levels.
The Hindu community was more or less evenly divided between the two options. The Muslim community is said to have voted predominately in favour of the panchayat system. Ethnic groups like Tamang, Sherpa, Magar, Gurung and Kirati overwhelmingly supported the panchayat option, whilst the Tharu are said to have been predominately in favour of the multipary system.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ Shaha, Rishikesh. Politics in Nepal 1980-1990. New Delhi: Manohar Publications, 1990. p. 51, 69.
- ^ Shaha, Rishikesh. Politics in Nepal 1980-1990. New Delhi: Manohar Publications, 1990. p. 62.
- ^ Shaha, Rishikesh. Politics in Nepal 1980-1990. New Delhi: Manohar Publications, 1990. p. 68-69.
- ^ Shaha, Rishikesh. Politics in Nepal 1980-1990. New Delhi: Manohar Publications, 1990. p. 71.
- ^ Shaha, Rishikesh. Politics in Nepal 1980-1990. New Delhi: Manohar Publications, 1990. p. 69-70.
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