Kathmandu, Nepal: The Election Commission’s recommendation to restructure electoral constituencies by designating each district as a single constituency has sparked controversy, with critics arguing that it undermines the principle of population-based representation and places excessive emphasis on geography.
The proposal, submitted to a task force led by Asim Shah, a political advisor to Prime Minister Balen Shah and responsible for preparing a discussion paper on constitutional amendments, suggests making all 77 districts single constituencies. It also recommends reducing the House of Representatives to 105 members, with 28 seats allocated under the proportional representation system.
However, Nepal’s Constitution requires that constituency delimitation be based on a balanced consideration of both population and geographical conditions. Critics argue that the Commission’s proposal largely ignores population and relies primarily on territorial boundaries.
If implemented, the proposal would significantly reduce representation for densely populated districts in the Terai region. For example, Kathmandu, with a population of around two million, and Manang, with approximately 5,600 residents, would each elect one representative. Analysts say this would challenge the democratic principle of “one person, one vote, one value.”
Meanwhile, Madhes-based political parties have long demanded constituency delimitation based on population. The issue was also raised during a protest organized by the Janamat Party at Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu on Monday.
Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari has argued that a smaller federal parliament is necessary, given the country’s economic constraints. He said that maintaining a large number of lawmakers is not practical in view of limited national resources.
Bhandari also suggested that district boundaries could be adjusted to maintain population balance, stating that restructuring or merging districts could help address demographic disparities.
Critics, however, warn that reducing constituencies under the proposed model could lead to unequal representation.
Historically, constituency delimitation in Nepal has been based on a combination of population and geography. After 2047 BS, successive arrangements have largely used population as a key basis. Even during the Panchayat era, several districts had multiple constituencies based on population size.
The 2015 Constitution of Nepal provides for 165 constituencies under the first-past-the-post system and 110 proportional representation seats. It also requires constituency review every 20 years. The Commission’s new proposal, however, could significantly alter this established structure.
Experts note that constituency delimitation typically takes into account community representation, vote equality, geographical accessibility, and infrastructure conditions. Ignoring these factors and relying solely on district boundaries has been described as controversial in terms of democratic representation.
Ultimately, the decision to adopt or reject the proposal rests with the government and the constitutional amendment process. The proposal has already triggered intense political and intellectual debate across the country.
