Election results released April 21 gave former rebels a significant boost in their quest to rule Nepal, indicating their promise of no-nonsense politics has struck a chord in the weary Himalayan nation.

Prachanda AP PHOTO

The Election Commission said the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), as the ex-guerillas are formally known, has won half of the seats for the Constituent Assembly that were up for grabs in direct elections.

The results make it increasingly likely the Maoists will form the backbone of a new government, even though direct elections account for less than half of the assembly's seats.

The rest of the seats for the assembly — which will rewrite the constitution, decide Nepal's political future and govern the country — were to be distributed by a system of proportional representation.

Bolstered by the results, the Maoists' leader Prachanda, who goes by only one name, has started meeting with other political parties to try and garner support, and shape a future coalition government.

"We will build a new Nepal that will be peaceful. We need the cooperation and partnership of all the political parties who have worked with us in the past," Prachanda said at a gathering of supporters in Katmandu on April 21.

The Maoists surprised many with their strong showing in the elections, tapping into a desire for change and billing themselves as a real alternative from the traditional, squabble-laden politics of the country's recent past.

Their campaigning relied heavily on grass-roots, door-to-door promotion and it appeared to have worked well.