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Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal has said that the Cyber Bureau does not need approval from senior officials or any other bodies to take action against those spreading misleading information on social sites. 

During a visit to the Cyber Bureau of the Nepal Police at Bhotahiti, the minister made it clear that the Bureau’s personnel are free to bring anyone violating the law under investigation. 

He urged the Bureau to closely monitor the spread of indecent, baseless, and legally prohibited content, as well as misinformation and disinformation on social media, in view of the upcoming election to the House of Representatives. 

The minister also called for prompt action against cases involving fake information and emphasized that the Bureau should remain more active in view of the election.

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has expressed the view that evils, aberrations, and corruption should be ended through mutual cooperation and collaboration.

At the first convocation ceremony of the Nepal Open University organized today, PM Karki, also the Chancellor of the University, stressed the need of resolving existing problems by creating employment opportunities in the country through excellence in higher education. 

"We should build our country by ending anomalies and corruption. I urge the graduated students to collaborate in the campaign of nation building. The university should impart productive-oriented education in order to stop brain drain of students, address the changing scenario of today's youth as well as create an environment where produced human resources can contribute to the nation," she mentioned. 

Similarly, educationist and former Vice Chancellor of the Tribhuvan University, Kedar Bhakta Mathema, argued that it is the responsibility of the students of Open University to engage in lifelong learning and give continuity to the learning even in difficult situations. 

Likewise, Vice Chancellor of the Open University, Dr Shilu Bajracharya, shared that the Open University has been imparting higher education to the people, who have been spending their busy lives through the medium of distance learning, in a convenient manner. 

A total of 545 students from various faculties graduated from the Open University.

Nepal has completed candidate nominations under its First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) electoral system, marking a critical step toward the country’s upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled for March 5. The process concluded largely peacefully, easing concerns about political instability.

Nepal’s federal parliament consists of 275 members, with 165 elected through the FPTP system and the remaining 110 through proportional representation (PR). With nominations now finalized, the Election Commission is moving ahead with the election calendar. Below are ten developments emerging from the nomination process that merit attention.

According to Nepal’s Election Commission, 3486 candidates have filed nominations under the FPTP system. Out of the total candidates, there are 3,089 men, 396 women, and one person from other categories. This figure is expected to decline slightly as parties negotiate withdrawals. Separately, 3,293 candidates from 63 political parties have registered under the proportional representation system.

Political parties have introduced a notable number of first-time candidates, reflecting growing public pressure for political renewal. Analysts link this trend partly to youth-led protests in September that called for accountability and generational change. The Nepali Congress, one of the country’s largest parties, has nominated 106 new candidates out of its 165 FPTP slots. The CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Center), and the newly formed Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) have also fielded a large number of new contenders.

In contrast to the 2017 and 2022 elections—when major parties formed electoral alliances—no formal pre-poll coalitions have been announced this time. Major parties, including the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, RSP, and the Nepali Communist Party, have fielded candidates in most constituencies. While limited seat adjustments may still occur, parties appear to be testing their individual electoral strength.

Despite constitutional commitments to inclusivity, candidate representation under the FPTP system remains uneven. Women, indigenous communities and other marginalized groups are underrepresented. While proportional representation lists are legally required to ensure diversity, no such obligation exists under FPTP, resulting in only about 400 female candidates 

One of the most closely watched races is in Jhapa-5, where former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli faces former Kathmandu mayor Balen Shah, a popular independent figure known for his anti-establishment appeal. The constituency drew nationwide attention during nominations, with competing demonstrations of political strength and minor clashes reported.

Several senior leaders are contesting from strategically significant constituencies. Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa has moved from his traditional stronghold in Kathmandu to Sarlahi-4 in the southern Madhes region. Former Prime Minister and Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal is contesting from Rukum (East), a historic center of the Maoist insurgency. Former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has reversed an earlier decision not to contest and is running from Gorkha-2. RSP chair Rabi Lamichhane is contesting from Chitwan-2, while former top bureaucrat Kul Man Ghising is running from Kathmandu-3. Veteran leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, a dominant political figure since the 1990s, has opted not to contest this election.

Unlike in previous elections, a significant number of journalists have entered the electoral race, underscoring public distrust in traditional political elites and the media’s expanding role in politics. Television host Rishi Dhamala and several other journalists are contesting. Nepal’s state-run news agency reports that more than a dozen journalists are running for office.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party, which emerged as a major political force in the 2022 elections, has fielded candidates in 164 of Nepal’s 165 constituencies, excluding the remote Himalayan district of Manang. This positions the party alongside established parties and reflects its rapid organizational growth. The monarchist Rastriya Prajatantra Party has also fielded candidates nationwide.

Nepal’s Supreme Court has refused to intervene in internal disputes within the Nepali Congress, refusing to issue a stay order that could have delayed the election process. The decision has removed a major legal obstacle and allowed the Election Commission to proceed as scheduled. Four cabinet ministers resigned to contest the elections, drawing criticism from civil society groups and opposition figures. Critics argue that ministers should prioritize ensuring free and fair elections rather than seeking electoral office, while supporters defend the resignations as consistent with democratic norms.

Eighteen female candidates including two independents are in the electoral fray from Sudurpashchim Province in the upcoming elections to the House of Representatives.

There are 16 House of Representatives electoral constituencies in the nine districts of this province. 

Although women's candidacy is low in the seven hilly districts of the province, there is significant participation of women candidates in Kailali and Kanchanpur among the Tarai districts.

According to Dilip Bhat, spokesperson of the Provincial Election Office, the highest number of female candidates is in Kailali where 11 female candidates are contesting, followed by Kanchanpur, and one woman in Doti is preparing for the upcoming elections.

Out of a total of 210 candidates in Sudurpaschim Province, one person's candidacy has been cancelled, and he mentioned that three people have withdrawn their candidacy.

Among the female candidates in Kanchanpur constituency-1, Bina Magar from the Nepali Communist Party, Sita BK from the Aam Janata Party, and Manjudevi Sunar and Rupadevi Bista as independents have filed their candidacy, spokesperson Bhat added.

Similarly, Premwati Rana from Nagarik Unmukti Party Nepal in Kanchanpur Constituency- 2 and Lakshmi Kumari Bista (Bhatta) from the Janata Party in Constituency-3 are in the electoral race. 

Likewise, Rupakumari Chaudhary from the Janata Party, Komal Gyawali from the Rastriya Swatantra Party and Sunita Bhandari from the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party are contesting the election in Kailali Constituency-1.

In constituency-2, Samjhana Bista Thapa of Miteri Party Nepal and Laxmi Pun Magar of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party have filed their candidacy. In Kailali constituency-3, Sushila Thapa Magar of Miteri Party Nepal and Junu Mahtara Shahi of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party are busy campaigning as candidates.

In the Kailali Electoral Constituency-4, Amrita Bhul of the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, in Constituency-5, Radhika Kumari Karki from the Miteri Party Nepal, Shobhamani Joshi from the National People's Front and Trishna Punmagar from the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party are contesting.

There is only one female candidate in Doti, one of the seven hill districts of the Sudurpaschim Province. Saraswati Kumari Pal (Malla) of the Miteri Party Nepal has filed her candidacy from here.

The Provincial Election Office has stated that there are a total of 1,716,660 voters in Sudurpaschim Province.