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Synopsis Election and Governance is the first innovative work on Nepal based on both theoretical and empirical studies. The main variables have been tested empirically at the local level by using survey methods and personal interviews. In the process, 500 respondents from fifteen villages and five municipal committees belonging to five sample districts were interviewed. Starting with the chequered history of Nepal’s political development, the different areas covered by this study show both the trends of systemic breakdowns and distortions prompting the parties and others to take corrective measures. Democracy is not taken here only as a part of the election system, now described as ‘electocracy’. Election is both a mechanism and principle of democracy and is always expected to maintain a balance between genuine participation of people and fair elections. If an incumbent government sees the prospect of power through unfair elections, then the spirit of democracy is defeated. This aspect has been thoroughly analysed with a view to helping the established democratic process in the country. Yet, without adopting a sound election system, no substantive democracy is possible. The deliberate selection of five areas-traumatic history of political development, governance, administration of election, parties and election, social setting and behaviour-helps to maintain thematic unity in the volume. Latest developments in Nepal-sacking of its coalition government and declaration of a state of emergency, have added substantially to the relevance of the study.