Most of the top leaders of traditional political parties are facing a tough contest in the parliamentary elections, with candidates from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) taking significant leads in two-thirds of the seats under the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system.

In Nepal's 275-member House of Representatives, 165 members are elected through the FPTP system, while 110 seats are filled through the proportional representation system. According to the latest data from the Election Commission Nepal, RSP candidates are currently leading in 110 seats, with the party already securing victories in three constituencies.

Based on vote counting till late Friday evening, Balen Shah, the RSP's prime ministerial candidate, is leading by a wide margin against former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli at the latter's traditional stronghold in Jhapa-5 in eastern Nepal.

According to the latest vote count, Shah has secured 13,694 votes, while Oli trails with 3011 votes.

(IANS)

Hundreds of supporters took to the streets across Nepal, singing, dancing, and celebrating as former Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Balendra Shah's party, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), claimed an absolute two-thirds majority in the parliamentary election in the country's House of Representatives as counting continues.

Supporters danced to songs praising the soon-to-be Prime Minister, Balendra Shah, popularly known as "Balen", at counting centres, ringing the bells--the election symbol of the party.

(ANI)

Ram Prasad Bhandari, the chief election commissioner, said that the counting will be finished by March 9.  The election commission will release the results of the 165 elected seats 24 hours from when the counting starts. In the 2022 election, it took almost two weeks for the results to be released.

China congratulates Nepal for holding elections to the House of Representatives elections, steadily and as scheduled, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing here.

"We are glad to see Nepal advance its political agenda smoothly. As a traditionally friendly neighbour, China values its relations with Nepal," she said.

"The two countries have given each other support in their effort to safeguard independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity," she said.

The RSP, a new political party at the national level, is yet to outline its foreign policy, especially towards China.

(PTI)

Former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has been elected from Rukum East-1 to the House of Representatives, becoming one of the few top leaders from traditional political parties to secure a win in the elections to the House of Representatives held on Thursday.

He secured 10,240 votes to win the election. His closest competitor, Lilamani Gautam of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML), secured 3,462 votes, according to the Election Commission of Nepal.

Although Prachanda, coordinator of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) formed after the merger of the erstwhile Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) and Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist), won the election, his party, along with other traditional political parties such as the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, fared poorly in the polls.

(IANS)

Initial results from vote counting in Nepal indicate that the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is ahead in 105 constituencies and has already claimed one win. 

The Nepali Congress has notched one victory and leads in 10 constituencies. 

CPN-UML is leading in 12, the Nepali Communist Party in 10, the Shram Sanskriti Party in four, and both the Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal in one each. 

Two independent candidates are also ahead in their areas. 

Tallying continues in various constituencies, and results are likely to shift as additional votes are counted. 

China on Friday congratulated Nepal for holding the polls smoothly while warily watching the trends of the results, which pointed to the rout of pro-Beijing CPN-UML headed by former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

Results trends show Oli, a four-time Prime Minister, trailing far behind the Rastriya Swatantra Party's rapper-turned-politician Balen Shah in his own parliament seat.

The trends show that the RSP is heading towards a landslide victory in Nepal's first general elections since the violent Gen Z protests toppled the Oli-led government in September.

China congratulates Nepal for holding elections to the House of Representatives elections, steadily and as scheduled, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing here.

"We are glad to see Nepal advance its political agenda smoothly. As a traditionally friendly neighbour, China values its relations with Nepal," she said.

(PTI)

Among 15 mountainous districts, transportation of ballot papers from three districts -- Sankhuwasabha, Dolpa and Gorkha are yet to be completed due to bad weather conditions, according to The Himalayan Times.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is emerging as the frontrunner in Nepal's House of Representatives elections held on March 5, riding on a surge in popularity following the Gen Z-led movement in September, The Himalayan Times reported.

According to The Himalayan Times, preliminary vote counts indicate that the party is leading in multiple constituencies across all seven provinces, with early results showing RSP ahead in at least 44 seats.

In Jhapa-5, Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen, is leading against former prime minister KP Sharma Oli, who is the president of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist). Oli resigned from the position of the Prime Minister of the Himalayan nation last year, following the Gen Z unrest in September.

As per the District Election Office, Shah had secured 6,090 votes while Oli had received 2,087 votes as of 10 am (local time), The Himalayan Times reported.

(ANI)

Nepali Congress candidate Yogesh Gauchan Thakali has won from Mustang, polling 3,307 votes against the CPN-UML's Indradhara Bista, who received 1,806 votes, the Kathmandu Post reported. Gauchan is a former member of the dissolved House of Representatives.

Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah's newly formed Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) was on Friday heading towards a landslide victory in Nepal's first general elections since the Gen Z protests toppled the K P Sharma Oli-led government in September. 

According to the Election Commission, the RSP is leading in 70 out of 94 constituencies where counting was underway as of 2 pm, while the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and Nepali Communist Party were each leading in six constituencies.

The election is being closely watched by India, which hopes for a stable government in the politically fragile Himalayan nation to take forward the developmental partnership between the two sides.

"We look forward to working with the new Government of Nepal to further build on the robust multifaceted ties between our two countries and peoples for mutual benefit," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in Delhi on Thursday.

He said India has "consistently supported peace, progress and stability in Nepal and in keeping with our commitment, provided logistical supplies as per request from Government of Nepal for these elections".

Balendra Shah, who was the Mayor of Kathmandu till recently, is leading in Jhapa-5 constituency against four-time prime minister and CPN-UML chair Oli in the latter's stronghold. Shah, popularly known as Balen, received 6,090 votes, while Oli got just 1,248 votes till 10 am.

PTI

Darshana got 15,455 votes, defeating Nepali Congress candidate Prabal Thapa who got 6,364 votes and Rastriya Prajatantra Party candidate Rabindra Mishra, who finished with 3,972 votes, according to Kathmandu Post.

Ranju Darshana of the Rastriya Swatantra Party wins Kathmandu-1 House seat, first to receive winning certificate.

(PTI)

Nepal election results live: Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, who drew young voters in pre-poll rallies, is leading KP Sharma Oli, 74, on his home turf in Jhapa.

The downturn in Oli's career came with the Gen Z movement of 2025, when a wave of youth‑led protests coalesced around grievances such as corruption, nepotism, unemployment, and restrictions on social media.

Mass demonstrations, which at times turned violent, culminated in a political crisis after a police firing killed at least 19 young people and injured several.

That forced Oli's resignation and the installation of an interim government. Media coverage and later retrospectives linked the uprising directly to a loss of legitimacy for several senior leaders, with Oli singled out because of his government's response to the protests.

Media commentaries noted that Oli's attempt to reassert control within his party and to frame the uprising as the product of external manipulation or elite opportunism had mixed results.

(IANS)

Rastriya Swatantra Party candidates are leading in five of Morang's six constituencies. The Shram Sanskriti Party's candidate is leading in the sixth constituency.

Many voters said they were closely watching the counting process, hoping the results would bring meaningful reforms.

Dr Anupama, a voter who recently returned to Nepal after living in Canada, said the rise of a new political force has generated fresh expectations among citizens.

"We hope Nepal will change this time because a new party is coming in first. We came back from Canada. We revoked our Canadian citizenship and returned to Nepal. We are looking forward to a changed Nepal. We don't want corruption anymore," she said.

Another voter, Dr Pralhad Uprety, said the election carries particular significance in the aftermath of youth-led protests earlier this year.

"This is a very important election after the Gen-Z protests. People are expecting change and we hope that change will be institutionalised if new parties win," he said.

(IANS)

Voters in Nepal have expressed hope for political change as early trends from the ongoing vote counting indicate a strong performance by a relatively new political force, sparking optimism among citizens seeking an end to corruption and a shift in the country's political landscape.

According to Nepal Election Commission Joint Secretary and spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, preliminary results suggest that the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is leading in several constituencies, while the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and the Nepali Communist Party are trailing in the same order.

"According to the primary results of the counting, the RSP is leading in many constituencies. The Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML, and the Nepali Communist Party are currently in second, third and fourth positions. But this is only a preliminary report. So far, the result in one constituency has been declared, and the RSP has won that seat," Bhattarai said.

(IANS)

Pukar Bam of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has surged ahead in Kathmandu Constituency-4, establishing a commanding lead as the vote count progresses. 

According to the latest tally from the counting centre, Bam has secured 9,821 votes, outpacing his closest competitor, Nepali Congress candidate Sachin Timalsena, who has received 2,744 votes. CPN-UML's Rajan Bhattarai follows with 2,327 votes as counting continues, The Himalayan reported.

Balendra (Balen) Shah of the Rastriya Swatantra Party has established a dominant lead in Jhapa Constituency-5, maintaining a strong margin from the moment vote counting began, The Himalayan reported. 

By 2:00 PM, Shah had secured 5,254 votes and KP Sharma Oli secured 1,248 votes. Other candidates, including Mandhara Chimaria and Ranjit Tamang, trail significantly behind in the early count.

Nepali Congress candidate Yogesh Gauchan Thakali has secured victory in the parliamentary election from Mustang. He won with 3,307 votes, defeating CPN-UML's Indradhara Bista, who received 1,806 votes, The Kathmandu post reported. 

Gauchan, a former member of the dissolved House of Representatives, is the son of senior Congress figure and former minister Romi Gauchan.

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) candidate Manish Jha has taken an early lead in the House of Representatives race for Dhanusha Constituency-3 in Madhesh Province.

According to the first round of vote counting, Jha has obtained 5,394 votes, The Himalayan reported.

Trailing behind, Nepali Congress contender Bimlendra Nidhi has received 1,906 votes, while CPN (UML) candidate Juli Kumari Mahato (Mahaseth) has secured 828 votes.

Amresh Singh of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is ahead of Gagan Thapa, the president of the Nepali Congress, with over 3,000 votes, in Sarlahi-4, The Himalayan Times reported.

The UK Embassy in Kathmandu has extended its congratulations to Nepal on the successful elections, reaffirming its long-standing friendship with the country. 

The UK expressed its commitment to working closely with the new government to support good governance and accelerate Nepal's economic and social progress.

pic.twitter.com/D8Yt8j3Wvq

— UK in Nepal 🇬🇧🇳🇵 (@UKinNepal) March 6, 2026

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has positioned itself as an alternative to traditional parties such as the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) and the Nepali Congress.

RSP was launched by Rabu Lamichhane, managing director of Galaxy 4K television, in 2022. The party fielded candidates in 131 constituencies in the 2022 polls and won 7 direct seats and 13 proportional seats. The party got 10.7 per cent of the party list votes, making it one of seven national parties in Nepal's Federal Parliament.

The Nepali Congress (NC) is set to secure its first win in the elections, with its candidate Yogesh Gauchan Thakali topping the final vote count in Mustang.

As per the Election Officer's Office, Thakali has obtained 3,307 votes. His closest rival, Indradhara Bista of the CPN-UML, received 1,806 votes, while Aditya Chandra Thakali of the Rastriya Swatantra Party collected 759 votes.

Although counting has concluded, the Chief Election Officer's Office has yet to formally declare the result.

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) candidate Dr Swarnim Wagle has maintained his lead in the vote count for Tanahun Constituency-1. As per Chief Election Officer Bishnu Prasad Upadhyaya, Wagle secured 2,928 votes by 11:00 am.

He is followed by Nepali Congress candidate Govinda Bhattarai, who secured 1,657 votes, while CPN-UML candidate Bhagwati Neupane received 1,101 votes, The Himalayan Times reported.

In addition, Vidyanath Dhakal of the Nepal Communist Party has garnered 323 votes, and Rastriya Prajatantra Party candidate Ramdatt Joshi has obtained 86 votes.

Nepal: Statement by the Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policyon the general elections.@eu_eeas @AnouarEUspox @EUAmbNepal pic.twitter.com/wkrEw1ZHJV

— EU in Nepal (@EUinNepal) March 6, 2026

Vote counting began in Nepal's Kailali Constituency-3. Election Officer Puskal Raj Prasai said the counting started with ballots from Kailari Rural Municipality-3. 

Of the total 109,122 registered voters in the constituency, 60,294 ballots, around 55 percent, were cast in Thursday's election, The Himalayan times reported.

Eleven candidates representing different political parties are contesting in the constituency.

Nepal votes today, months after Gen Z-led protests over corruption and political failures forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign. Since Nepal became a federal democratic republic in 2008, it has had 14 governments in 17 years. None has completed a full five-year term.

Rastriya Swatantra Party's Ranju Neupane (Darshana) has secured a victory in the Kathmandu-1 parliamentary constituency, according to the final vote tally. Neupane received 15,455 votes

Ranju came into the national spotlight early, contesting the Kathmandu Metropolitan City mayoral election at just 21 years old, according to The Himalayan Times.

Ranju began her political involvement in 2013 at age 17, when she joined the Bibeksheel Nepali Party. In 2017, at 22, she ran for mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City with the campaign slogan "Let's make Kathmandu the most beautiful city in the world." 

Born in March 1996 and raised in Kathmandu by a single mother, Darshana says her upbringing shaped her resilience and commitment to social justice. Her mother supported the family through tailoring and childcare work to ensure her education despite financial hardship.

Darshana holds a Bachelor's degree in Development Studies from Kathmandu University and a Master's degree in Political Science from Tribhuvan University. She has also completed a postgraduate diploma in counselling psychology.

Two decades ago, there were massive rallies and nationwide strikes in Nepal after King Gyanendra took direct control of the country in February 2005, dismissing the government and suspending civil liberties. He imposed a state of emergency.

He said it was necessary to defeat the Maoist insurgency, a 10-year movement that had already killed over 13,000 people. But the move had the opposite effect. As political leaders were put under house arrest and media freedoms were restricted, many felt they were being robbed of their democratic rights.

Initial vote counts from across Nepal show the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) taking a strong lead in 47 constituencies, leaving other parties far behind. 

The CPN-UML and Nepali Congress are each ahead in five constituencies, while the Nepali Communist Party leads in three and smaller parties in two, Kathmandu Post reported.

Thirty years ago, a small faction of Nepal's communist movement launched what it called a "People's War." The attacks, starting on February 13, 1996, took place in four different parts of the country. 

At the time, newspapers reported them as minor law-and-order incidents. Few imagined that the assault led by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) would last a decade and alter the Nepali state.

Koirala family

This is one of Nepal's oldest political dynasties. The Koirala family has produced multiple party leaders and prime ministers over the decades.

Deuba-Rana Family

Another dominant force within the Nepali Congress is the Deuba-Rana family. Party veteran and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba was the Member of Parliament (MP).

Dahal Family

In the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), the role of party chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, widely known as Prachanda, remains central. 

Thapa (KC) Family

In the Nepali Congress, the Thapa (KC) family is another force to reckon with. Arjun Narasingha KC is a former minister and a senior leader. 

When rapper-turned-engineer Balendra "Balen" Shah won the 2022 local elections to become Mayor of Kathmandu, it marked a shift in Nepal's politics. Shah defeated candidates from major parties such as the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal.

Shah's victory was not an ordinary one; it marked a turning point in Nepal's political culture. From being an underdog in the 2021 Kathmandu mayoral race to now a top leader, Shah's rise in national politics is nothing short of meteoric.

Vote counting in Nepal's Syangja-2 has been delayed after a dispute arose over 171 ballots that were found without the polling officer's signature. The unsigned ballots were discovered at the Baljyoti School polling centre in Waling Municipality's ward 10, prompting objections from political parties, Kathmandu post reported.

Officials and representatives from various parties are currently holding discussions at the District Administration Office to settle the matter.

Rastriya Swatantra Party's Ranju Neupane (Darshana) has secured a victory in the Kathmandu-1 parliamentary constituency, according to the final vote tally.

Neupane received 15,455 votes, well ahead of Nepali Congress candidate Prabal Thapa, who finished with 6,364 votes, Kathmandu Post reported.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party leader Rabindra Mishra, who had narrowly missed victory in the past two elections, came in third with 3,972 votes.

For KP Sharma Oli, this is more than just another election. At 73, he is attempting to regain his position as a central figure in Nepalese politics and as the leader of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML).

Rastriya Swatantra Party candidate Ranju Neupane (Darshana) is on the verge of winning as vote counting nears completion on Friday morning. 

According to Chief Returning Officer Churaman Khadka, ballots from only 13 polling centres are still left to be tallied, Kathmandu Post reported.

"Votes from 44 centres have already been counted," he said, adding that the final count should be completed within the next two hours.

Out of the 23,227 votes counted so far, Neupane has secured 12,842, while her closest contender, Nepali Congress candidate Prabal Thapa, has received 5,216 votes.

Nepal uses a mixed electoral system, which means voters cast two separate ballots on election day.

First ballot

In the first ballot, the country is divided into 165 constituencies. Under Article 84(1) of the Constitution of Nepal, the country is divided into single-member constituencies.

This means voters choose one candidate from their local constituency, and the one who gets the highest number of votes wins. This system is called First-Past-The-Post (FPTP).

Second ballot

Apart from the 165 members elected directly, the remaining 110 members of Nepal's House of Representatives are chosen through the Proportional Representation (PR) system. The entire country acts as one single constituency for this vote.

Before the voting day, each political party submits a closed list of candidates to the Election Commission of Nepal. Seats are distributed to parties based on the percentage of votes they receive nationwide.

In Kathmandu-10, Pradeep Bista of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is leading, the Kathmandu Post reported. He secured 6,660 votes, followed by Himal Karki of the Nepali Congress (1,348), Binod Shrestha of the CPN-UML with 1,001 votes and Rupa Maharjan Shrestha of the Nepali Communist Party with 436 votes.

In Kathmandu-8, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has taken a commanding lead. Out of the 11,552 votes tallied so far, Shrestha has secured 7,617 votes, according to Kathmandu Post.

His competitors, Sapana Rajbhandari of the Nepali Congress received 890 votes and Suman Sayami of the CPN-UML secured 847 votes. 

In the latest vote count for Kathmandu-7, Ganesh Parajuli of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has secured 4,677 votes, leaving his closest rival, Prakash Shrestha of the CPN-UML, trailing with just 904 votes, Kathmandu Post reported.

Pramod Hari Guragain from the Nepali Congress is in third place with 720 votes, followed by the Nepal Communist Party's Basant Prasad Manandhar at 619. 

In the early stages of the vote count for Nepal's Jhapa-2 constituency, Indira Rana Magar, the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, has established a firm lead. 

According to the latest figures, Rana Magar has secured 2,965 votes, positioning her well ahead of the former Speaker, Devraj Ghimire, who currently has 1,147 votes. Meanwhile, Sarita Prasain of the Nepali Congress is trailing closely behind Ghimire in third place with 1,125 votes, Kathmandu Post reported.

The newly-formed Rastriya Swotantra Party (RSP) has won one seat and is leading in another 36 while the Nepali Congress is ahead on five, the CPN (UML) on three and the Nepali Communist Party on one, according to preliminary results in 46 seats where counting is in progress.

Nepal witnessed about 60 per cent voter turnout during the elections to the House of Representatives on Thursday - the country's first polls since violent Gen Z protests that toppled the K P Sharma Oli-led coalition government last year.

The RSP has won the Kathmandu 1 constituency with its candidate Ranju Darshana winning by a "huge margin", according to RSP central committee member R K Dhungana.

Ranju secured more than 10,000 votes, almost double than the nearest rival, Prabal Thapa Chhetri of the Nepali Congress, Dhungana said.

(PTI)

Balendra Shah, who drew large crowds, mostly young voters, in pre-poll rallies, is leading KP Sharma Oli, 74, on his home turf in the Jhapa constituency.

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.