Kathmandu: Nepal Maoist supremo, who led a decade-long insurgency in the country, has won from Kathmandu constituency-10,as his party moved ahead of its rivals in the constituent assembly polls to shape the future political system for the Himalayan nation.

Prachanda, or Puhpa Kamal Dahal, secured 20,499 votes, almost double than his closest rival Rajendra Kumar K. C of Nepali Congress, who got 11,103 votes in Kathmandu constituency-10,the Nepalnews online said today.

Along with Prachanda, another Maoist leader and minister in Prime Minsiter G P Koirala government Hisila Yami emerged victorious with 9,273 votes from Kathmandu constituency-7. The Maoists, who are still named as a terrorist organisation by the United States, have been predicting victory for their party.

In an apparent attempt to assure the domestic and international community, Prachanda has expressed his party's sincerity in carrying forward the lanmark peace process in the country. "We want to continue working with parties and the international community," Prachanda told mediapersons at the Birendra International Convention Center (BICC) in Kathmandu, where the vote counting was carried out.

"For the international community and especially our neighbours India and China, I want to say that our party wants good relations with all of them and is willing to work together on development and peace process," he said. Former US president Jimmy Carter, international election watch groups, India and United Nations have praised Nepal for holding the election peacefully and bringing the Maoists to the multi-party democratic exercises. 

Prachanda, who has been projected by the CPN-Maoist as the future president after the monarchy is abolished, said his party will "work together with not only the seven parties but also the new parties that will be established through this election in the forthcoming constitution making process".  

The Maoists have surged ahead of their rivals, bagging nine of the 18 seats declared so far and trends indicating their leading in 60 of the remaining 240 constituencies.  "All eyes are upon us. This is a positive challenge for us. I want to clarify that the path of cooperation that we adopted since 12-point agreement will continue," Prachanda was quoted as saying in the report.  

With regards to doubts being raised about the Maoists democratic credentials, the Maoist leader said, "Our commitment on multi-party democracy has been expressed through this election as well. I have taken this victory as the people's mandate to us to consolidate lasting peace. We will remain honest to that mandate," the chairman of the CPN-Maoist said.  

The special assembly will rewrite Nepal's interim constitution and is expected to abolish the 240-year-old monarchy in the Himalayan nation. The constituent assembly was the main demand of Nepal's seven main political parties, including the Maoists, who teamed up in April 2006 and orchestrated weeks of protests and unrest that resulted in King Gyanendra giving up dictatorial powers he had seized the year before.  

The former insurgents ended their decade-long civil war after inking a peace deal in November 2006 with the interim government that took over from Gyanendra.

Source : PTI