Nepals 2026 Election Sees Multiple Contenders vying for Power

Nepal to Hold Parliamentary Election on March 5

A parliamentary election is scheduled for March 5 in Nepal, six months after a historic uprising led to the resignation of the government. The election will replace the interim administration that has governed the country since September 2025, when at least 77 people were killed in deadly protests.

Polling stations have been set up across the country, with over 23,000 locations open for voting. The polls are expected to begin at 7am local time and continue until 5pm, with a three-day public holiday declared to facilitate voter travel. Schools and other public buildings have been converted into polling centers.

A total of nearly 19 million people, including approximately 800,000 first-time voters, have registered for the election. The voting age in Nepal is 18, and the number of registered voters has increased by nearly one million since the last parliamentary election in November 2022.

The election will see voters directly elect 165 members to the House of Representatives and fill the remaining 110 seats through a proportional representation system. Two traditional parties, the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), are facing challenges from a newly formed party led by former rapper Balendra Shah.

Shah’s National Independent Party has drawn significant support on the campaign trail, with some reports suggesting he is a strong candidate for prime minister. The Election Commission has promised to release the results of the 165 directly-elected seats within two days of the voting, while the remaining 110 seats are expected to take another two to three days.

The election comes after last year’s Gen Z-led protests, which called for a rejection of established parties seen as corrupt and ageing. Political parties have pledged to amplify the voices of younger voters, promising to tackle corruption, improve governance, and provide more jobs.

Source: Al Jazeera