By Charles Haviland
BBC News, Kathmandu
Nepal's Maoist party has named the people who will serve as its MPs in a interim parliament to be established on Monday, after a 10-year civil conflict.
The rebel group says it will now follow a political rather than a violent path.
Its list of 73 MPs includes many people from traditionally marginalised groups, but not the party's top three leaders.
In the past, these groups have been excluded from power and influence in what is an exceptionally hierarchical society, dominated by high-caste men.
The Maoists are now on the brink of sharing power - and it is weapons, not votes, that have brought them to this point.
Their selection of 73 MPs - their allotted share - is therefore intriguing.
Twenty-eight - or more than a third - are women, who are extremely under-represented in Nepalese institutions.
Eleven of the Maoist MPs will be Dalits, formerly known as Untouchables; 22 are from indigenous ethnic groups called janajatis; and 21 from communities of the plains bordering India.
Arms impounded
The list suggests the Maoists mean to raise up some of the communities they have always said they are fighting for.
The parliamentary group will be led by Krishna Mahara, the Maoists' main peace negotiator, who served as an MP in the early days of democracy 15 years ago.
It was known in advance that top leaders, including the party chairman, Prachanda, would not join parliament. They perhaps feel they can maintain a more radical stance outside it.
On the same day the new parliament convenes, the Maoists' weapons are due to be impounded as part of the peace deal.
The rebel group is still learning about democracy - there are still regular reports of their local-level members attacking and injuring people from rival parties.
In a few weeks, the Maoists are to join an interim government which will organise elections to a new assembly this year.
Story from BBC NEWS:
