Early trends in Nepal’s general election began to emerge on Friday, a day after the Himalayan nation recorded around 60 per cent voter turnout in what officials described as a largely peaceful poll. The election took place about six months after a deadly Gen Z–led protest movement that led to the fall of the previous government.
According to media reports, Balen Shah’s Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has taken the lead in 35 constituencies as counting progresses across the country. Shah’s rise in Nepal’s politics has been closely linked with the growing anti-corruption sentiment among young voters, which eventually triggered the protests that toppled the earlier government.
The Election Commission of Nepal earlier said it had made all arrangements to announce results within 24 hours of counting. Results from the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system will be declared first, while counting for proportional representation seats will begin later.
ALSO READ | Tit-for-tat at sea? Iran claims strike on US tanker after warship torpedoed
RSP makes strong start in early counting
RSP chairman Rabi Lamichhane is currently leading in the Chitwan-2 constituency. Meanwhile, Balen Shah is ahead in the Jhapa-5 seat and is being seen as a potential prime ministerial candidate if his party performs strongly.
The party has also taken early leads in several constituencies in Kathmandu. In addition, RSP candidates are leading in both Bhaktapur constituencies-Bhaktapur-1 and Bhaktapur-2.
In Jhapa-5, former Prime Minister and CPN-UML leader KP Sharma Oli is trailing by more than 6,000 votes against Balen Shah.
RSP has also secured an early victory in Kathmandu-1, where its candidate Ranju Neupane defeated Nepali Congress candidate Prabal Thapa. Neupane received 15,455 votes, while Thapa secured 6,364 votes.
ALSO READ | Nepal’s high-stakes election with 18.9 million voters and 275 seats: Key points to know
In total, around 60 per cent of Nepal’s 19 million eligible voters cast their ballots to elect the 275-member House of Representatives. As many as 3,406 candidates contested 165 seats under direct voting, while 3,135 candidates are competing for 110 proportional representation seats.
Results for the 165 FPTP seats are expected by this evening, while proportional representation results for 110 seats may take several more days.
