The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has established a dominant early lead in all three constituencies of the Kaski district. As of Friday morning, RSP candidates are significantly outperforming rivals from the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, Kathmandu Post reported.

Rastriya Swatantra Party is leading in 23 seats, while Nepali Congress and CPN-UML are leading in three each as per the preliminary election results.

Vote counting started late on Thursday night, according to the Election Commission.

Counting is expected to be completed by Friday night.

(PTI)

Nepal's interim prime minister Sushila Karki urged patience as the country awaits clarity on the next government, saying that the interim setup will work toward a swift handover, noting that the nation's youth have "huge expectations" from the incoming government.

"Lets see what kind of government will be formed, whether there will be coalition or a single party government. We will try for quick handover because youths have huge expectations with the new government," Karki told BBC.

Former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has stressed that the election must help restore stability and democratic order in Nepal, while expressing confidence that his party would secure a strong mandate in the General Elections 2026.

Oli, who is the Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal - Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), said the election carries the responsibility of reinforcing peace and ensuring citizens can continue their daily activities without fear.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Oli said, "This election has to maintain peace and order and ensure the public that normalcy is back in the nation so that people can continue their business and activities without fear or restraints."

He added that the polls should help reinstate democracy and bring the country back onto a stable democratic path.

"This election should reinstate the Loktantra, and anarchic as well as violent activities should be put to an end. It should again bring the country back to the democratic track and lead the nation and the public to the path of stability," he added.

(ANI)

Early vote counting has placed the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) firmly in the lead across 34 constituencies, far outpacing all other political parties. The CPN-UML follows with early leads in five constituencies, while the Nepali Congress holds leads in two, and the Nepali Communist Party in one, The Kathmandu Post reported

Among the frontrunners are KP Sharma Oli's Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML), Sher Bahadur Deuba's Nepali Congress, and Pushpa Kamal Dahal's CPN (Maoist Centre).

The newly formed Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) led by former rapper Balendra Shah, who was also the mayor of Kathmandu, is also posing a tough challenge to the seasoned political parties.

About 60 per cent turnout was registered during the voting on Thursday.

Nepal will shortly count votes for the country's first general elections since violent Gen Z protests toppled the KP Sharma Oli-led coalition government last year.