Nepal Elections 2026: Nepal is set to hold the House of Representatives elections on Thursday, March 5, a year after Gen-Z-led protests toppled the K P Sharma Oli-led coalition government. Over 18.9 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballots between 7 AM and 5 PM.
To encourage voter participation, the government has announced a three-day holiday starting today, March 4.
Nepal Elections 2026: Major Political Parties In Contest
Take a look at the major political parties in the high-stakes contest:
1. Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP): A centrist, reformist party founded in 2022, the RSP has quickly emerged as the "party to beat," largely due to its alignment with the youth-led protest agenda. Its appeal among younger voters has positioned it as a major challenger to the traditional political order.
2. Nepali Congress (NC): Nepal's oldest political party, the NC is now led by Gagan Thapa (49), who positions himself as a generational change within the establishment. The party hopes to leverage its historical credibility while positioning a vision of modern governance and youth inclusion in the upcoming elections, News18 reported.
3. CPN (UML): Led by former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli (74), the CPN (UML) maintains a deep traditional voter base. However, the party faced scrutiny for its role in the 2025 crackdown, raising questions about its ability to maintain broad popular support.
4. Other Parties: Several other parties are also in the fray. The Nepali Communist Party (NCP), a newly unified bloc of former Maoist and socialist groups led by Prachanda and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), which continues to advocate for the restoration of the monarchy.
Nepal Elections 2026: A Look At Major Contenders
1. Balendra Balen Shah (RSP): The 35-year-old rapper and former Mayor of Kathmandu is widely seen as the front-runner in the upcoming elections. Shah is directly challenging K P Sharma Oli in the Jhapa-5 constituency.
2. Gagan Thapa (Nepali Congress): GaganThapa is a popular former youth leader and was elected party president in January 2026 to modernise the party’s image. He is positioning himself as the face of generational change within the establishment to attract younger voters.
3. KP Sharma Oli (CPN-UML): Despite being ousted during last year's Gen-Z protests, the veteran leader is contesting the election, seeking a comeback.
Sushila Karki - The Interim PM
Sushila Karki, Nepal's first female Chief Justice and first female Prime Minister, is currently serving as an interim Prime Minister and will not be contesting the 2026 elections.
Nepal Elections 2026: A Look At Key Figures
Elections After 3 Years
The 2026 election comes just three years after Nepal's last national vote, following the Gen-Z protests that led to the collapse of the government in 2025. An interim government was formed, which later announced fresh elections.
Nearly 19 Million Registered Voters
Nearly 19 million people are registered to cast their vote in Nepal, including around 966,000 men, 924,000 women, and 200 individuals under the others category, including those who do not identify as male or female and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Voter Numbers On The Rise
The number of registered voters has risen by about 1 million since the last parliamentary election in November 2022. The surge reflects heightened political engagement following the youth-led protest in September 2025, which toppled the previous government and triggered early elections. Authorities have urged young people to register. Political parties have pledged to amplify the voices of young voters.
275 Parliamentarians Up For Elections
Voters will directly elect 165 members to the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Parliament. The remaining 110 seats will be allocated through a proportional representation system, with parties nominating lawmakers based on their vote share.
(With Agencies Inputs)