2026 Nepalese National Assembly election

Nepalis are heading to the polls on 5 March 2026 to elect a new government in a landmark election the first after massive anti-corruption protests led by young citizens ousted the administration in September 2025.Nearly 19 million registered voters, including about 800,000 first-time young voters, are expected to take part in the national ballot to choose representatives for the 275-member House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Nepal’s Parliament.
Under Nepal’s mixed electoral system, 165 members will be elected through First Past The Post (FPTP)  where the candidate with the most votes wins and 110 seats will be filled by proportional representation (PR), aimed at ensuring broader social inclusion.The election comes less than six months after widespread protests led largely by Gen Z activists  ignited by anger over corruption, unemployment, economic stagnation and a controversial social media ban, forcing Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and his government to resign.Since then, Nepal has been governed by an interim government headed by former chief justice Sushila Karki, which promised to hold timely elections and transfer power to a new elected leadership.
Campaigns have focused on a range of pressing issues, with job creation, better governance, curbing corruption and youth aspirations dominating public discourse. Many analysts say the vote reflects a generational clash between entrenched political elites and an increasingly assertive young electorate.The electoral contest has drawn significant attention to several high-profile figures. Balendra “Balen” Shah, the 35-year-old former mayor of Kathmandu and a former rapper turned politician representing the Rastriya Swatantra Party, is among those expected to challenge seasoned leaders. He is contesting key seats including the influential Jhapa 5 constituency against veteran politicians.
Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress now led by Gagan Thapa and the major communist parties, including KP Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal (UML) and the Nepali Communist Party led by former Maoist chief Prachanda, remain major contenders.The vote also has geopolitical significance. Nepal’s relations with its powerful neighbours, India and China, are set to influence political dynamics, given each country’s strategic interests in the Himalayan republic’s infrastructure, trade and diplomatic alignment.
Neighbouring India, which has historically had an outsized role in Nepal's political history, is watching closely. It has had a fractious relationship with former prime minister KP Sharma Oli in the past. This is primarily because it sees Oli as someone who has actively pursued a closer relationship with China, India's rival, during his several terms as prime minister. China has a major influence in Nepal and will be watching closely, as it will be hoping that any future government is supportive towards its interests in the country, including the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The US has also been playing a role in this election and has been more aligned with India in terms of its strategic objectives. Nepal's Election Commission has promised to release the results of the 165 directly-elected seats within 24 hours of ballot boxes being collected from across the country - an exercise that typically takes at least a day. Officiating Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari told local reporters that tallying the results of the proportional representation vote - which determines who wins in 110 seats - could take another two to three days. If this really were the case, that would be a huge departure from how long it typically takes for results to be released in the country.
Security agencies say they are fully prepared to conduct the polls peacefully, with a massive deployment of personnel and contingency plans in place to ensure voters can cast their ballots without fear.According to information,Voting will start at 07:00 local time (01:15 GMT) and continue until 17:00 local time.However, polling booths are likely to stay open later in some parts of the country to allow all those wishing to vote to cast their ballots. In the past voting has continued until 21:00 local time in some constituencies.Nepal’s Election Commission has issued a stern warning to political parties to strictly follow electoral codes of conduct ahead of upcoming elections. The EC cautioned against violations such as hate speech, misuse of state resources, and campaign irregularities, stressing that strict action will be taken against offenders. The move aims to ensure free, fair, and transparent polls as the country prepares for a crucial electoral exercise amid heightened political activity.