Early counting from Nepal’s parliamentary election indicates the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) leading the race.
The election was held on March 5, the first since the KP Sharma Oli-led government resigned in September 2025 after youth-led protests across the country.
Shah, a rapper who later entered politics and served as mayor of Kathmandu, defeated former prime minister KP Sharma Oli in the Jhapa-5 constituency by a margin of nearly 50,000 votes, according to early counting figures.
If the results are confirmed, the 35-year-old leader could become Nepal’s youngest prime minister in parliamentary history. He could also become the first Madhesi leader to hold the post.
ALSO READ: Balen Shah: From Rapper To Kathmandu Mayor To Nepal’s Next PM
Early Results: RSP Takes Lead
The Rastriya Swatantra Party, formed in 2022, has secured a large share of seats in the House of Representatives.
According to available election data by Sunday afternoon, the party had won 119 of the 165 constituency seats where direct elections were held.
The party also won all 15 constituencies in the Kathmandu Valley, covering Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts.
The results suggest voters are moving away from long-established political parties.
Traditional Parties Record Heavy Losses
Early results show major losses for Nepal’s traditional political parties.
As of Sunday afternoon, the Nepali Congress had 17 confirmed seats, while the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) led by KP Sharma Oli had seven wins and three leads.
Several senior political leaders were defeated in their constituencies.
Among them:
- Indira Rana Magar of the RSP won the Jhapa-2 seat, defeating CPN-UML leader Dev Raj Ghimire by 48,742 votes.
- Nepali Congress president Gagan Thapa lost the Dhanusha-4 constituency to RSP candidate Amaresh Singh.
- Senior Nepali Congress leaders including Guru Raj Ghimire, Shekhar Koirala and Bimalendra Nidhi were also defeated.
The CPN-UML also saw several senior figures lose their contests, including general secretary Shankar Pokharel and party vice presidents Bishnu Paudel, Prithvi Subba Gurung and Gokarna Bista.
Counting Dispute Reported In Syangja
Vote counting in Syangja-2 was temporarily delayed after election officials found 171 ballots without the polling officer’s signature.
The ballots were discovered at the Baljyoti School polling centre in Waling Municipality.
Representatives from several political parties raised objections, prompting discussions between election officials and party representatives to resolve the issue.
5 March 2026
Turnout Reaches Around 60 Percent
Nepal’s general election recorded a preliminary voter turnout of around 60 percent, according to early estimates cited by news agency ANI.
Election officials said the strong participation reflected significant engagement from younger voters, particularly those from the Gen Z demographic, which had played a central role in last year’s protests.
Authorities described the atmosphere at polling stations as energetic, with many first-time voters taking part in the election.
Election Commission Said Polling Was Peaceful
The Election Commission of Nepal said the nationwide vote was conducted peacefully across most parts of the country.
Officials attributed the smooth conduct of the election to improved voter awareness campaigns, cooperation from political parties and extensive security arrangements.
Security personnel were deployed across polling stations while authorities imposed restrictions such as a temporary vehicle ban to ensure smooth voting.
After Polls Closed
Voting ended at 5 pm on Thursday, after which officials began collecting ballot boxes from polling stations and transporting them under security to counting centres.
After polling concluded, Officiating Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari thanked the people of Nepal for participating in the election and helping ensure that the voting process remained peaceful.
The election was closely watched after last year’s protests raised questions about public trust in the government and the electoral system.
5 PM: Voting Closes Across Nepal
Polling stations closed at 5 pm across Nepal after a day of nationwide voting.
Election officials began collecting ballot boxes from polling stations and transporting them under guard to counting centres.
Authorities had imposed strict restrictions on election day, including a temporary ban on both public and private vehicles to ensure smooth polling and security.
The restrictions are expected to be lifted after voting concluded.
4 PM: Voting Continues Peacefully
Earlier in the day, election officials reported steady voter participation across the country.
Security forces guarded polling stations while voters queued to cast their ballots. Authorities said the voting process remained largely peaceful, with only minor incidents reported in a few locations.
Officials had estimated that overall turnout could reach around 65 percent.
1 PM: Turnout Reaches 24 Percent
Nepal recorded a nationwide voter turnout of about 24 percent by 1 pm, according to the Election Commission.
Participation was higher in the Kathmandu Valley, where turnout reached 36 percent. Kathmandu district recorded around 41 percent turnout, followed by Lalitpur at 31 percent and Bhaktapur at 24 percent.
Officials said voting continued smoothly across most parts of the country.
12 PM: Turnout Crosses 18 Percent
Earlier in the day, election officials reported that around 18 percent of voters had cast their ballots by noon, with more than 3.1 million people voting by that time.
Authorities said the polling process remained orderly, with only minor incidents reported in a few locations.
Security forces were deployed across the country to monitor polling stations.
10 AM: Early Turnout Begins To Appear
Election officials said around 6 percent of voters had cast their ballots by 9:30 am.
Polling stations across the country opened without major disruptions. Officials reported that voters were arriving steadily through the morning and the process remained orderly.
Authorities expected voter turnout to reach around 65 percent by the end of the day.
9 AM: Senior Leaders Cast Their Votes
Several political leaders cast their ballots early in the day.
Interim prime minister Sushila Karki voted at a polling station in Kathmandu shortly after polling began. After voting, she said her responsibility as interim leader was nearing its end as Nepal moved toward forming a new elected government.
Gagan Thapa, leader of the Nepali Congress and a contender for the prime minister’s post, also voted in Kathmandu. He called for leadership that combined experience with the ability to bring change.
Other candidates and party leaders voted across Nepal’s provinces during the early hours of polling.
7 AM: Voting Begins Across Nepal
Voting officially began at 7 am across all 77 districts of Nepal.
Authorities imposed strict security measures to ensure smooth polling. Public and private vehicles were temporarily banned during voting hours to prevent disruptions.
Many urban residents travelled back to their home districts to vote, a pattern that officials said resembled travel during major national festivals.
Polling continued until 5 pm.
Why This Election Matters
The vote comes after months of political unrest in the country.
In September 2025, large protests led mainly by young people erupted in Kathmandu. The demonstrations began after the government banned 26 social media platforms.
What started as a protest against the ban quickly expanded into a wider movement demanding action against corruption, better governance and stronger accountability from political leaders.
Clashes between protesters and security forces escalated tensions. The unrest eventually led to dozens of deaths and thousands of injuries.
The political fallout forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign. Soon after, an interim government led by former chief justice Sushila Karki took charge and announced fresh elections.
The Parties And Candidates To Watch
Nepal’s election saw traditional parties face a growing challenge from a newer political force.
The centrist Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) have long dominated the country’s politics. However, both were part of the government that collapsed after last year’s protests and have faced public dissatisfaction since then.
On the other side was Balendra Shah, the rapper-turned-politician and former mayor of Kathmandu. His Rastriya Swatantra Party, formed in 2022, attracted significant attention during the campaign and drew support from younger voters. Shah was widely seen as a potential contender for the prime minister’s post if his party performed strongly.
How Nepal’s Voting System Works
Nepal’s House of Representatives has 275 seats.
The country uses a mixed electoral system, meaning voters cast two ballots on election day.
One vote is for a candidate in the voter’s constituency. These contests fill 165 seats using the first-past-the-post system.
The second vote is for a political party. Based on the share of votes each party receives, 110 seats are allocated through proportional representation.
More than 3,400 candidates contested the election.
The Youth Factor
Young voters were expected to play a key role in the election.
Nearly 800,000 first-time voters were eligible to vote. Many belonged to the same generation that participated in or supported last year’s protests.
The protests highlighted growing frustration among young Nepalis over corruption, job opportunities and the dominance of long-established political elites.
Because of this, analysts closely watched whether younger voters would support newer political figures or continue backing established parties.
What Happens Next
Voting continues until 5 pm, after which vote counting will begin.
However, Nepal’s mixed electoral system means final results may take several days to be confirmed.
Analysts say no single party is likely to secure a clear majority, which could lead to negotiations between parties to form a coalition government.
For now, the election is seen as the first major political test since youth protests reshaped Nepal’s political landscape.
Also Watch:
16-year-old Nepali student’s fiery speech
