KATHMANDU: A delegation that included four members of the first Constituent Assembly (2008–2012) called on Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Sunday, demanding a legal guarantee of 50 percent women’s candidacy in the upcoming election scheduled for March 5, 2026.

Former parliamentarians Renu Chand, Dr Binda Pandey, Amrita Thapa Magar and Sunil Babu Pant, among others, called on the PM to ensure by law that half of the candidates under the first-past-the-post (direct) electoral system are women.

In response, PM Karki assured the delegation that she would raise the issue for discussion in the Council of Ministers, according to her press coordinator Ram Bahadur Rawal. The PM also highlighted the need to explore ways to reduce election costs, stating that the rising expenses of elections had fueled corruption and electoral misconduct.

Members of the delegation stated that although the Constitution embraces the principle of proportional inclusion, its spirit has not been fully implemented. They urged the government to correct this by bringing an ordinance.

Dr Pandey argued, “In the absence of a legal mandate, political parties rarely nominate women candidates in direct elections. This has created a gap in women’s representation in Parliament.” She also echoed the need for ensuring proportional representation of Dalits, ethnic groups, and other marginalized communities.

Rights activists Usha Kiran Timsena, Samjhana Paudel, and Pratiksha Chapagain were also part of the delegation.