As the country is gearing up for the constituent assembly elections, a recently conducted survey has shown that 98 percent of people are in favor of the proposed polls.
The survey conducted by a Kathmandu-based research institute Interdisciplinary Analyst said that 44 percent people stood in favour of holding the election of the constituent assembly for restoring sustainable peace in the country, while 28 percent said that they are in favour of CA polls to satisfy all the sides. Similarly, 11 per cent termed the CA polls necessary to bring the Maoists to the mainstream politics.
The survey conducted in 35 districts of the country and participated by three thousand people has concluded that the monarchy is losing popularity in recent days.
According to the organisation’s findings on Nepal’s contemporary political situation, 87 percent of the respondents said that the monarchy’s popularity has declined in the eyes of citizens while 40 percent said decline in popularity was related to the royal massacre of 2001. Thirty-two percent likened the decline in popularity with King Gyanendra’s actions.
“Fifty-four percent of the respondents are for monarchy, while 39 percent are against kingship,” the report said.
On the issue of arms management, most of the respondents opined that arms should be separated from the Nepali Army and Maoist militants to hold the election of the constituent assembly.
Of the total respondents, 40 percent people said that the arms of Nepali Army and Maoist should be separated to hold the election of the constituent assembly, while 32 percent said that Nepali Army should be limited to the barracks and Maoists should be separated from their weapons to hold the CA polls in a fearless environment. However, 25 percent just wanted to see both the Nepali Army and the Maoists to remain in their respective barracks and cantonments without laying down arms.
Releasing the key findings of the survey on Tuesday, Dr Sudhindra Sharma, director of the Interdisciplinary Analysts said that the survey was conducted to know the view of people on latest political development of the country.
He said that 38 percent respondents are illiterate, adding, people over 18 years of age of more than 20 castes representing all the five development regions were included in the survey, according to reports.
80 percent of the respondents said that Maoists should be given the status of political parties if they lay down arms.
The survey further said that the coalition of seven political parties, Maoists, the palace and foreign powers are the obstacles to take the country out from the present transitional phase.
Seventy-three percent of the respondents were not aware of the meaning of federal state, the survey said.
To a question regarding whom the respondents would cast a vote for if the elections were to be held now, 16 percent said they would vote for the Maoists. Similarly, 14 percent said they would vote for Nepali Congress, 12 percent for CPN-UML and 4 percent for the King. However, 4 percent of the respondents did not want to cast votes for anyone.