Nepal holds first election since civil war and abolishing monarchy

More than 15 million eligible voters take part Sunday in the first stage of Nepal’s first general election for a 275-member parliament and provincial assemblies. The centrist Congress Party is challenged by the Maoist alliance of former insurgents which fought the civil war. The poll in the Himalayan republic take place under a new constitution for sweeping changes in the political system after the monarchy was abolished. It will also pave the way for a massive reconstruction program after the devastating earthquake of 2015. The second stage of voting takes place on Dec. 7.