Nepal went to the polls on Thursday, March 5, in its first general election since a massive Gen Z-led uprising last year toppled the government of former prime minister KP Sharma Oli. The vote is being seen as a crucial moment for the country as citizens decide who will lead Nepal in the coming years.
Under tight security arrangements, voters across the country are casting their ballots to elect 275 members of Nepal’s House of Representatives and determine the next government.
Polling began at 7 am local time, which is 6:45 am IST, and will continue until 5 pm.
18.9 million voters and the electoral process
According to Nepal’s Election Commission, a total of 18.9 million eligible voters from the country’s population of around 30 million are registered to vote in the election. Around one million of these voters were newly added to the voter list after last year’s Gen Z uprising.
Under Nepal’s electoral system, 165 members of the 275-seat House of Representatives are elected through direct voting. The remaining 110 seats are filled through a proportional representation system. The Election Commission has said that the results under the direct voting system will be announced within 24 hours after all ballot boxes are collected. Results under the proportional voting system could take one or two days.
Nepal’s acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari said the polling body plans to begin counting votes immediately after the ballot boxes are collected.
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Key contenders for the top office
Nearly 65 political parties are contesting in the election, but three major figures are seen as the main contenders. One of them is rapper turned politician Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen. He gained prominence during the election campaign and previously served as the mayor of Kathmandu after winning the 2022 election. Shah later left the post to contest as the prime ministerial candidate of the National Independent Party.
Another key contender is Gagan Thapa, the young leader of the Nepali Congress, one of Nepal’s oldest political parties and a liberal democratic group with close ties to India.
The third major contender is Khadga Prasad Oli, the controversial but influential communist leader whose government was toppled by the Gen Z protests in 2025. Three-time prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who now leads the Nepali Communist Party, is also in the fray.
Major issues in the election
Several major issues are influencing the election. Analysts say corruption, job creation, poverty and high youth unemployment are among the key concerns for voters. Nepal’s relations with neighbouring countries India and China are also an important factor. According to the World Bank, India accounts for two-thirds of Nepal’s international trade, while China accounts for about 14 percent. Beijing has also lent more than $130 million to Nepal, which is among the world’s poorest countries.
Nepal’s interim prime minister Sushila Karki earlier appealed to citizens to vote in large numbers.
She said the vote would determine the country’s stability and prosperity and urged people “to maintain peace and order” during the election, adding that “peace is Nepal's identity”.
Tight security and election restrictions
The Nepal Army has implemented a three-phase integrated security plan for the elections. This includes security measures before, during and after voting.
Army spokesperson Rajaram Basnet said the military will conduct aerial patrols, secure polling stations and counting centres, and neutralise any suspicious objects.
Around 3,30,000 security personnel have been deployed for the election, including 80,000 officials from the Nepal Army. Polling booths across the country will have three-tier security.
After voting ends, integrated teams consisting of security personnel, election officers and party representatives will escort ballot boxes to counting centres.
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Border closure and alcohol ban
The Nepalese government has also imposed several restrictions during the election period.
The India-Nepal border has been closed from midnight of March 2 to midnight of March 5 to maintain security. Authorities have enforced restricted movement, allowing people to cross only after verification and identification checks.
Nepal has also banned the sale of alcohol nationwide for seven days before the March 5 election. The restriction will remain until the final election results are announced.
Additionally, Nepal declared a three-day public holiday from March 4 to March 6 for the general elections.
The Election Commission has also urged media organisations not to publish opinion poll results before voting.
Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari said, “Media should not disclose the results of such opinion polls ahead of the March 5 election, as it may disillusion voters and spoil a healthy competitive environment by discouraging the candidates.”
