NEPALIS HISTORIC POLLS NEUTRON

Much-Needed change as Nepalis vote for stability in historic polls. Transition from monarchy and democracy has been marred by crippling instability.

Nepalis across the country's mountainous north voted Sunday in elections that may have herald  much-needed change after 20 ruinous years marked by a-

 Bloody Maoist insurgency, a devastating earthquake and crippling political instability.

Voters cast their ballot for representatives in new national and provincial parliaments in historic vote that marks the final step of a drawn-out peace process, which began in 2006 with the end of the civil war.

The two-phase elections will establish the country's provincial assemblies as laid out in a post-war constitution that aims to devolve power from the top-heavy central governments to seven newly created provinces.

Nepal's tumultuous transition from monarchy to democracy has been marred by crippling instability that has seen-

10 leaders cycle through power in 11 years, hampering development and the recovery from the earthquake that stuck in 2015.

The areas that were worst hit by the quake, which killed 9,000 and destroyed half a million homes, voted on Sunday with many people expressing hope that sluggish reconstruction efforts would be kickstarted by the political change. 

''I hope to see more development and better services in our district,'' said first -time voter Shanta Bhujel, 18, who cast his ballot in Chautara, a town east of capital Kathmandu.