Submit your Article

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 D.R. Regmi, Tanka Prasad Acharya, and K.I. Singh, were defeated. Nepali Congress leader B.P. 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, 2047 B.S. (1990 A.D.), 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 May 12, 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 Nov 15, 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 May 17, 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 April 10, 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 Nov 19, 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 K.P. Sharma Oli as Prime Minister.

2022 Parliamentary Elections

The election was held on Nov 20, 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 Gen Z movement, parliamentary elections are scheduled for March 5, 2026. There are 18,903,689 registered voters: 9,663,358 men, 9,240,131 women, and 200 registered under the LGBTIQ 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 B.P. 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.

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has reaffirmed Nepal's unflinching commitment to advancing human rights through policy, legal and institutional measures. 

She highlighted the provisions of the Constitution of Nepal and expressed her commitment to protecting and promoting all human rights and fundamental freedoms, the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations in Geneva said in a press statement.  

In her addresses to the High-Level Segment of the 61st Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva today through a video statement, the Prime Minister expressed Nepal's commitment to the principles of UN Charter and reiterated the resolve of the Government of Nepal to conclude the transitional justice process in a transparent, inclusive, credible, and victim-centric approach.

The Prime Minister, while recalling the September 2025 Gen-Z movement in Nepal, stated that the mandate of the current Government is to ensure accountability, combat corruption, and deliver good governance. 

She highlighted the preparations being made for holding the elections to the House of Representatives on March 5 in a free and fair manner. 

Presidents, Prime Ministers, Foreign Ministers, and dignitaries from over 120 countries are going to address the opening plenary of the High-Level segment. 

The President of the General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, and Swiss Federal Vice President and Head of Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Ignazio Cassis addressed the session, which was formally convened by the President of the Human Rights Council Sidharto Reza Suryodipuro.

Nepali delegation, led by Prime Minister Karki, comprises Ram Prasad Subedi, Permanent Representative, and senior officials from the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva.

The ongoing 61st session of the Human Rights Council is scheduled to conclude on March 31, 2026 in Geneva.

The Election Commission (EC) has reminded the officials, government employees and organizations from different sectors of the election code of conduct after the EC received several complaints of violation of the election code of conduct. 

Some cases of violation of the election code of conduct have surfaced in the wake of the House of Representatives (HoR) elections scheduled for March 5. 

The EC has stated that the election code of conduct fully binds the Government of Nepal and ministers, Province Governments and province ministers, bodies of the Government of Nepal and province governments and their office-bearers, local governments and their executives, employees of the federal, province and local levels as well as the offices and employees of semi-state owned institutions and public enterprises.

Furthermore, the media houses and media persons, schools, universities, teachers and officials are also bound by the election code of conduct. 

Similarly, the political parties, their sister organizations, candidates, candidates' election representatives and voting representatives should strictly abide by the election code of conduct. 

Others to follow the election code of conduct include the bank and financial institutions, cooperative organizations, commercial and business sectors, NGOs and their employees, according to the EC.

The constitutional bodies, their officials, security bodies and security personnel, public position holders, election observers and the election observing committee's office-bearers too should completely follow the election code of conduct.  

Issuing a statement on Monday, the EC has asked the professors, teachers and officials to avoid any sorts of election campaigns favouring certain political parties and candidates in the upcoming HoR elections. 

The EC made such an appeal to the stakeholders issuing a statement after it received some complaints about the involvement of professors, teachers and officials in publicity campaigns for political parties and candidates.

The Election Code of Conduct, 2082 BS clearly bars teachers and professors and officials from participating in the political campaigns of any political parties and candidates.

The EC has also cautioned those stakeholders to maintain impartiality and not to participate in the political parties' and candidates' election campaigns.

The Election Commission (EC) has urged the people's representatives of the local level not to be involved in the election publicity campaigns. 

In order to keep the free, fair, impartial, transparent, fearless and economized environment for the  March 5 House of Representatives (HoR) elections, the EC has made the plea to the locally-elected representatives. 

Citing reference to the implementation of the Election Code of Conduct, 2082 BS, the EC has reminded the responsibility of the concerned stakeholders to strictly comply with the code. 

According to the EC, it has been monitoring whether or not the political parties, candidates and concerned are fully complying with the election code of conduct. 

The commission has expressed serious concern over complaints and grievances received that some local representatives participated in the promotion of political parties and candidates contrary to the election code. 

According to the code related provisions, local executive office-bearers may participate in election campaigns of their respective political parties in local levels other than the one they were elected, yet there is a clear provision that they cannot use government resources and facilities.

The EC has cautioned the local people's representatives not to engage in poll publicity campaigns in a way to contravene the existing code.