KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has emphasized the need for proportional representation within the first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system, arguing that the system is directly linked to the people.

Speaking from his residence in Budhanilkantha on Sunday, Deuba made the remarks while receiving a memorandum from a delegation led by Bhakta Bishwakarma, Chairperson of the Nepal Voters’ Rights Forum.

The delegation submitted recommendations for amending the draft bill prepared to revise and unify election-related laws.

Deuba stressed that proportional participation within the FPTP system is necessary as it serves as the primary channel connecting representatives to the people. “I will consult within my party and with other political parties regarding the proposed electoral amendments,” he said, adding, “Direct elections are a key means to reach the people, but proportional inclusion within them is also essential.”

The 21-point memorandum submitted by the Forum includes a demand that at least 50 percent of the candidates fielded under the FPTP system in federal and provincial elections be women, based on their proportion in the population.

It also rejects a provision in the bill that proposes replacing Dalit women candidates with other minority women, arguing that such a measure would deprive Dalit women of their political rights and should be immediately removed.

The memorandum further demands a rotational reservation system in the FPTP framework, with 50 percent of constituencies reserved for women and 13 percent for Dalits to ensure fair representation.