Nepal Holds General Elections Amidst Political Turmoil

Nepal is currently conducting its general elections, a pivotal event following the recent political upheaval that led to the ousting of the KP Sharma Oli government. With over 18 million voters eligible to participate, the elections will determine 275 parliamentary seats through a mix of direct voting and proportional representation. The political landscape features notable candidates, including Oli and Balendra Shah, a rapper-turned-politician. As the nation seeks change after widespread protests, the outcome of these elections could significantly shape Nepal's future.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 5, 2026, 10:51 IST

Voting Process in Nepal's General Elections

On Thursday, Nepal commenced its general elections, nearly six months following the ousting of the KP Sharma Oli administration due to widespread protests.

Over 18 million eligible voters are participating in the election, which runs from 7 am to 5 pm, to select 275 members of Parliament.

Out of these seats, 165 will be filled through direct voting, while the remaining will be allocated based on a proportional representation system, allowing political parties to nominate candidates according to their vote share.

Vote counting will start immediately after polling ends.

Initial trends are expected to emerge by Friday, but a complete tally may take up to a week due to the time required for counting proportional representation votes, as stated by officials from the Election Commission.

Background of the Political Crisis

The political crisis that led to the fall of the Oli government began with protests against a ban on 26 social media platforms imposed on September 4.

Although the ban was lifted on September 8, the protests escalated into a larger movement against perceived corruption and mismanagement, culminating in Oli's resignation the following day.

The protests resulted in at least 72 fatalities, with many participants identified as members of 'Gen Z', typically referring to individuals born from the late 1990s to 2010.

On September 12, Sushila Karki, a former chief justice, was appointed as interim prime minister until a new government is established.

Candidates and Political Landscape

Oli, who heads the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), is once again a candidate in the elections, competing against over 3,400 candidates from 65 different parties.

Another significant contender is Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), which was the third-largest party with 32 seats following a vote of confidence in July 2024.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party, a relatively new political entity, has nominated rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah as its candidate for prime minister. Shah, the former mayor of Kathmandu, is contesting from the Jhapa-5 constituency, directly opposing Oli, who has previously won this seat six times.

The Nepali Congress has selected Gagan Thapa, aged 49, as its prime ministerial candidate.