The Nov 20 elections is a direct contest between two sides because all major parties are contesting by forming two distinct alliances, one led by the Congress and another by the UML. The members in the NC-led electoral alliance or the so-called democratic left alliance are the CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist), Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal and Rastriya Janamorcha. The UML, meanwhile, leads the second alliance, and its members are the Upendra Yadav-led Janata Samajbadi, the royalist Rastriya Prajatantra Party and other smaller parties. Bhojraj Pokharel, former chief election commissioner, says political parties are yet to get a full maturity, which means the capability to avoid provocation, develop more understanding and engage in logic-based decision-making. Analysts say November 20 elections too won’t deliver a stable government, as more than two parties are set to form the next government. An agreement between either NC and Maoist or UML and Maoist to lead the government on equal terms could sow the seeds of instability. 

Political analyst Bishnu Dahal says, as a single party getting the majority votes is slim, Nepal is on the course of yet another period of political instability. Nepal has conducted seven parliamentary elections since 1959. But the upcoming election will be a historic one, in that it is the first to be held after the completion of parliament’s term. But as far as historic significance goes, that’s about it.

It’s estimated that Rs 24.11bn will be spent on the Nov 20 elections. The security forces have asked for Rs 16bn. The Ministry of Finance, however, has agreed to spend Rs 8.822bn on security. For the first-past-the-post election system of the House of Representatives and the Provincial Assembly, the ballot paper has the election symbol and other details printed in red on a white background. While in the proportional election system, the ballot paper has black color printed on a white background.