Submit your Article

The Election Commission of Nepal has said that initial voter turnout in the parliamentary elections held on Thursday was around 60 percent. 

Officials said that this is an early estimate and final figures will be come later.

Acting Chief Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari said the commission is still collecting data from across the country.

A total of 18. 9 million voters were registered for the elections.

Among them were 9.66 million were male voters, 9.24 million female voters, and 200 voters listed as others.

Voting began across Nepal on Thursday morning in a crucial parliamentary election that will determine the country’s next government. The election is widely viewed as pivotal as it comes after months of political turbulence and public protests led largely by younger voters demanding sweeping reforms.

Polling stations opened at 7:00 a.m. local time and will close at 5:00 p.m., according to the Election Commission Nepal. Officials said 18,903,689 voters are eligible to cast ballots, including 9,663,358 men and 9,240,131 women.

The election will decide the composition of the 275-member House of Representatives of Nepal, the lower chamber of the federal parliament. Of these seats, 165 lawmakers will be elected through the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system, while 110 members will be chosen under the Proportional Representation (PR) system, a hybrid electoral model introduced under the 2015 constitution.

One of the most closely watched races is in Jhapa-5, where former prime minister KP Sharma Oli is contesting against former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah. The contest has drawn national attention as it pits an experienced political heavyweight against a popular independent figure associated with youth-driven political reform.

Oli, a senior leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), lost power following widespread protests led by Generation Z activists earlier this year. The demonstrations called for stronger anti-corruption measures, improved governance, job creation, and greater political accountability.

Under Nepal’s constitutional framework, the prime minister must be a member of the House of Representatives, making parliamentary victories critical for leaders seeking to head the next government.

The last parliamentary election was held in 2022, producing a fragmented mandate that resulted in shifting coalitions and political instability. The latest election is expected to reshape the country’s political landscape as voters seek stability and effective governance after the protests and months of uncertainty.

Nepal transitioned to a federal democratic republic following the abolition of the monarchy in 2008 and the adoption of a new constitution in 2015. However, frequent government changes and coalition disputes have continued to challenge political stability.

Economically, Nepal remains one of the lower-income countries in South Asia. The country’s per capita income stands at around $1,517, reflecting persistent structural challenges including limited industrialization, dependence on remittances, and vulnerability to external shocks.

Over the past decade (2014/15–2024/25), Nepal’s economy has grown at an average rate of around 4.2 percent. Despite the political unrest triggered by the Gen Z protest movement in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025/26, the overall economic outlook remains relatively stable.

According to recent projections, consumer price inflation is expected to remain around 4.0 percent, lower than the government’s annual projection of 5 percent. Meanwhile, economic growth is forecast at around 4.0 percent, which is below the government’s 6 percent target for the year.

Voters expect the new government to focus on improving the overall quality of life by ensuring good governance and maintaining strong control over corruption. People want the government to create more jobs and expand economic opportunities so that citizens can achieve financial stability and growth.

 Farmers expect the timely availability of chemical fertilizers to support agricultural productivity, while students and families hope for quality and affordable education. At the same time, citizens want accessible and affordable healthcare services, a clean and reliable supply of tap water, and dependable public transportation systems. 

Proper monitoring and regulation of markets to control prices is also a major expectation, as it would help protect consumers from inflation and unfair practices. Overall, voters hope the new government will work responsibly to build a fair, transparent, and prosperous society for everyone.

The Election Commission (EC) has informed that it made the banking and financial institutions open some of their branches on public holidays as well. 

The government has given public holidays from March 4 to 6 for the House of Representatives elections. However, to facilitate elections, the EC requested the banks and financial institutions to run some of their branches on these holidays too.

The EC requested the Office of Comptroller General for facilitating in submission of revenue, an essential part of financial responsibility.

On March 5, Nepal is holding the election for the 275-member House of Representative(HoR) which will be the 10th democratic elections in Nepal’s history, including the referendum of 1980 and two elections of Constituent Assembly elections. The election is taking place against the backdrop of the Sept 8-9 Genz protests. Nepal’s electoral history from 1959 to 2022 reflects a gradual evolution from a nascent democracy with limited participation to a complex multiparty system, emphasizing inclusive representation. This is an overview of Nepal’s electoral exercise since 1959. 

1959 Parliamentary Elections

Nepal’s first parliamentary election was held in 1959, with polling conducted over 45 days—from Feb 18 to April 10—due to limited transportation and logistical constraints. A total of 4,246,468 voters were registered, and turnout stood at 42.19 percent.  Although participation was modest, the election was widely regarded as a historic democratic milestone. Nine political parties and 12 independent candidates contested the polls. The House of Representatives comprised 109 members, while the National Assembly had 36 members—half nominated by the King and half elected. The Nepali Congress secured victory with 74 seats. 

Other parties won as follows: Nepal Rastrabadi Gorkha Parisad (19), Samyukta Prajatantra Party (5), Nepal Communist Party (4), Nepal Praja Parisad (Acharya) (2), Nepal Praja Parisad (Mishra) (2), and independents (4). Dwarika Devi Thakurani became Nepal’s first female lawmaker. Several political heavyweights, including DR Regmi, Tanka Prasad Acharya, and KI Singh, were defeated. Nepali Congress leader BP Koirala became Nepal’s first democratically elected Prime Minister. However, in 1960, King Mahendra dismissed the government and imposed the party-less Panchayat system, halting parliamentary democracy for three decades.

1980 Referendum

The 1980 referendum marked a critical turning point. Voters were asked to choose between a reformed Panchayat system and a multiparty democracy. Out of 7,192,451 registered voters, turnout reached 66.93 percent. Invalid votes accounted for 7.64 percent, reflecting both the novelty of the process and voter confusion. The reformed Panchayat system secured 54.79 percent of the vote, while 45.21 percent supported multiparty democracy. Notably, 19 districts, including Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Morang, Sunsari, Kaski, Rupandehi, Dang, and Kanchanpur, voted in favor of multiparty democracy. The result revealed a country divided between continuity and change, foreshadowing the pro-democracy movement of 1990.

1990 Restoration of Democracy

The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990, restored multiparty democracy and established a bicameral legislature comprising the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. The National Assembly consisted of 60 members: 35 elected by the HoR through a single transferable vote system, 15 elected by an electoral college from the five development regions (three per region), and 10 appointed by the King. Members served six-year terms, with one-third retiring every two years. The House of Representatives consisted of 205 constituencies.

1991 Parliamentary Elections

The first election after the restoration of democracy was held on 12 May 1991. Of 11,191,777 registered voters, 65.15 percent cast their ballots. Invalid votes stood at 4.42 percent. Among 1,345 candidates, seven women and three independents were elected. The Nepali Congress won 110 seats, followed by CPN-UML with 69 seats, Samyukta Janamorcha with 9, and Nepal Sadbhawana Party with 6. The remaining seats went to smaller parties. Article 114 of the 1990 Constitution required parties to field at least five percent women candidates. Accordingly, 80 women contested the election, of whom seven were elected. A by-election in February 1994 increased the number of women lawmakers to eight. Daman Nath Dhungana was elected Speaker. Girija Prasad Koirala became Prime Minister, but internal party disputes led to the dissolution of Parliament in 1994.

1994 Mid-term Elections 

Mid-term elections were held on 15 Nov 1994. Registered voters increased to 12,327,329, and turnout reached 61.86 percent. The CPN-UML emerged as the largest party with 88 seats, followed by the Nepali Congress (83), Rastriya Prajatantra Party (20), Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party (4), Nepal Sadbhawana Party (3), and independents (7). Of 86 female candidates, six were elected, including Sailaja Acharya, Lila Shrestha, Mina Pandey, Bidya Devi Bhandari, Sahana Pradhan, and Kamala Devi Panta. Manmohan Adhikari of CPN-UML formed a minority government that lasted six months. This Parliament endorsed the Mahakali Treaty with India.

1999 Parliamentary Elections

Held on 17 May 1999, the election saw 2,238 candidates representing 39 political parties and independents. There were 13,518,839 registered voters, with turnout at 65.79 percent. Of 143 women candidates, 12 were elected. The Nepali Congress won 111 seats, CPN-UML 71, RPP 11, and the remaining seats went to smaller parties. Tara Nath Ranabhat was elected Speaker. Krishna Prasad Bhattarai initially became Prime Minister but was later replaced by Girija Prasad Koirala.

First Constituent Assembly Elections (2008) 

Following the Interim Constitution of 2007, Nepal held its historic Constituent Assembly (CA) election on 10 April 2008. The 601-member CA included 240 members elected through First-Past-The-Post (FPTP), 335 through Proportional Representation (PR), and 26 nominated members. Of 17,611,832 registered voters, turnout was 61.70 percent. Combining FPTP and PR results, the Maoists won 220 seats, Nepali Congress 110, CPN-UML 103, Madhesi Janadhikar Forum 52, and Tarai-Madhes Loktantrik Party 20. In total, 25 parties gained representation. Women held 197 seats (32.8 percent), marking a significant leap in inclusion. Pushpa Kamal Dahal became Prime Minister, though his government collapsed within nine months amid institutional conflict.

Second Constituent Assembly Elections (2013) 

The second CA election was held on 19 Nov 2013. Turnout reached 78.34 percent. Nepali Congress emerged as the largest party, followed by CPN-UML and the Maoists. Women secured 176 seats (nearly 29 percent) of the Assembly. Sushil Koirala became Prime Minister with CPN-UML support. The Assembly promulgated the Constitution of Nepal in 2015, establishing a federal democratic republic.

2017 Parliamentary Elections 

The first federal parliamentary elections under the 2015 Constitution were held in two phases in November and December 2017. Out of 15,427,938 registered voters, turnout was nearly 69 percent. Under FPTP, UML won 80 seats, Nepali Congress 23, Maoist Centre 36, and others 26. Under PR, UML secured 41 seats, Nepali Congress 40, and Maoist Centre 17. Women won 92 seats in the 275-member House. An electoral alliance between UML and Maoists later formed the Nepal Communist Party, with KP Sharma Oli as Prime Minister.

2022 Parliamentary Elections

The election was held on 20 Nov 2022. Registered voters totaled 17,988,570, with turnout at 61.4 percent. Nepali Congress emerged as the largest party with 89 seats, followed by CPN-UML (78), Maoist Centre (32), Rastriya Swatantra Party (21), and RPP (14). Women secured 91 seats in the 275-member House, reflecting continued though uneven progress in representation. Pushpa Kamal Dahal became Prime Minister in a coalition government, underscoring the era of fragmented mandates and coalition politics.

Road to 2026 Parliamentary Elections

Following the GenZ movement, parliamentary elections are scheduled for March 5. There are 18,903,689 registered voters: 9,663,358 men, 9,240,131 women, and 200 registered under the LGBTIQA+ category. Under the PR system, 63 parties are participating under 58 symbols. Under FPTP, 65 of 107 registered parties are contesting. A total of 3,406 candidates are contesting under FPTP and 3,135 under PR, including 1,772 women and 1,363 men.

Conclusion

From the landmark 1959 election that brought BP Koirala led the inclusive, mixed electoral system of the federal republic era, Nepal’s parliamentary journey reflects resilience amid instability and transformation. The party-less system endorsed in 1980, the restoration of democracy in 1990, the turbulence of the 1990s, and the republican shift after 2008 collectively illustrate a gradual deepening of democratic participation and institutional reform. While governments have frequently changed and alliances have shifted, voter engagement has remained relatively robust. Representation, particularly of women and marginalized groups, has expanded through proportional mechanisms and constitutional mandates. 

As Nepal approaches the 2026 elections, its electoral history reveals both the persistent challenges of political consolidation and the enduring public commitment to democratic choice and pluralism.