Trending Now - Nepal's Youth-led Movement Gains Ground in Election Results
WHO:
Balendra Shah: Prime ministerial candidate of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (National Independent Party), former mayor of Kathmandu, and a leading figure in the 2025 youth-led uprising.
Khadga Prasad Oli: Former Prime Minister of Nepal, ousted during the 2025 protests.
Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah: Former king of Nepal, removed from power in 2008.
Ram Prasad Bhandari: Acting chief election commissioner of Nepal.
Rabindra Mishra: Leader of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), which advocates for the restoration of the monarchy.
Bhojraj Pokharel: Independent political analyst and former chief election commissioner of Nepal.
Sanjiya Shrestha: Voter who expressed hope for change in Nepal.
Kalpana Saud: Voter expressing frustration with established political parties.
WHAT:
Millions of Nepalis are voting in parliamentary elections on March 5, 2026, the first since the 2025 youth-led uprising.
More than one million new voters have been added to the rolls since the last national election in 2022.
The election is a three-way contest primarily among the Rastriya Swatantra Party, Nepali Congress, and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist).
The Rastriya Swatantra Party has won 27 of 165 directly elected seats and is leading in 90 other constituencies as of March 7, 2026.
Voter turnout is estimated to be around 60% to 65%.
The election is seen as a response to widespread corruption and demands for greater government accountability.
WHERE:
Kathmandu, Nepal: Capital city where significant political events and protests occurred.
Jhapa: District in southeastern Nepal where Balendra Shah is contesting against Khadga Prasad Oli.
Remote mountain villages in northern Nepal: Locations where ballot boxes are being transported by helicopter.
WHEN:
March 5, 2026: Date of the parliamentary elections.
September 2025: Month when the youth-led uprising occurred.
2008: Year when the monarchy was abolished in Nepal.
WHY:
The 2025 protests were triggered by a social media ban and escalated due to public frustration over corruption and poor governance.
The youth-led uprising aimed to challenge the dominance of established political parties and demand accountability.
HOW:
Authorities declared a three-day public holiday to facilitate voter travel.
Security measures included deploying thousands of temporary police officers and army troops to patrol streets and guard polling stations.
Voting was conducted in schools and public buildings converted into polling centers.
The election process includes direct elections for 165 members of the House of Representatives, with the remaining 110 seats allocated through a proportional representation system.
On March 5, 2026, millions of Nepalis participated in parliamentary elections, marking the first vote since the youth-led uprising in 2025, with a voter turnout estimated between 60 and 65 percent. The Rastriya Swatantra Party, led by Balendra Shah, has already secured 27 of the 165 directly elected seats and is leading in 90 other constituencies, while the election unfolds as a three-way contest against the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal. Authorities facilitated the voting process by declaring a three-day public holiday and deploying thousands of security personnel to ensure a smooth election in various locations, including remote mountain villages where ballot boxes were transported by helicopter.