Sixty-four political parties are contesting the House of Representatives election under the proportional representation (PR) system. However, the closed PR candidate lists submitted to the Election Commission (EC) have come under sharp criticism, with many describing them as an assault on the very spirit of proportional representation.
In the past, traditional political parties were widely criticized for nominating family members, relatives, and privileged elites through the PR system. This time, both established and newly formed parties have once again allocated PR seats to individuals who, in one way or another, have enjoyed access to state power over the past four decades.
New and emerging political forces have followed the same pattern. Just three months ago, a youth-led movement against “nepo kids” brought down a powerful government, raising hopes that established parties would reform and that new political actors would break away from this chronic practice. Contrary to those expectations, the PR candidate lists submitted by both old and new parties are now being widely dismissed as “Nepo Lists.”
Nepal adopted a mixed electoral system—first-past-the-post (FPTP) and proportional representation (PR)—to ensure meaningful representation of marginalized and underprivileged groups in Parliament. However, political parties are openly undermining this principle by nominating relatives and wealthy business figures who financially support party activities.
Even new political forces that had promised change have failed to escape criticism. The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which has brought together many new and alternative voices, has faced widespread backlash over its PR list. Similarly, Balendra Shah and Ujyaalo Party Nepal, led by Kul Man Ghising, have been accused of favoring relatives in their PR nominations.
Dr Toshima Karki, a senior leader of the RSP, remarked: “The very concept of proportional representation was introduced so that geographically marginalized regions could find space. The list should also include the disadvantaged. The existing PR list has raised serious questions about its legitimacy.”
Several leaders have also accused Kul Man Ghising of effectively selling PR positions in exchange for money. Many Generation Z leaders have echoed these concerns, criticizing new political parties for reproducing the same nepotistic practices they once opposed.
Similar questions surround the major traditional parties—the Nepali Congress (NC), CPN-UML, and CPN (Maoist Centre). While these parties have introduced some new faces through the PR system compared to the past, the selection of certain candidates has continued to raise concerns. For example, Nepali Congress leader Arjun Nara Singh KC has faced scrutiny for being placed high on the PR list under the Khas-Arya cluster.
