Some interesting developments here in Nepal. The Maoist party is well behind in the polls. Party leader Pushpa Kanal Dahal has suffered a humiliating defeat in his electorate. Dahal, known as Prachanda when he lead the insurgency which ignited civil war, is not happy. He has called for vote counting to be stopped.
"There has been suspicious incidents during the collection of ballot boxes," says Dahal. "The counting should not move ahead without reassessing the process."
The Maoists are currently meeting and assessing the situation. They currently lie third behind the outright leader the Nepali Congress Party and second placed Communist Party of Nepal, a breakaway party formed last year when there was disillusionment with the Maoist's direction.
Two days ago the country voted in a mood of hope. The polls were as much about voting within a fair system as they were voting in a fair government. The mood now is of increasing tension. Everyone is praying for no bloodshed.
80,000 military personnel were deployed for this election. The National Parks are protected by the army. The excellent anti poaching record of late is threatened while troops are away from their normal duties.
The tiger, the rhino, many species as well as the people are influenced by these current political events.
We all want resolution not revolution. Conservation and politics are intertwined. There are many votes to be counted, let's hope they are. The tiger awaits...
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