KATHMANDU — Authorities in Nepal have begun counting ballots after a nationwide parliamentary election that could reshape the country’s political landscape. The vote marks the first national election since a major youth-led uprising last year forced the previous government from power.
Officials from the Election Commission of Nepal confirmed that vote counting started Friday morning in 53 of the country’s 165 electoral constituencies, with counting expected to begin in the remaining districts later in the day.
Because many polling stations are located in isolated Himalayan communities, authorities have had to transport ballot boxes from remote mountain villages—some accessible only after several days of trekking—using helicopters to reach central counting facilities.
Election authorities said preliminary results could begin emerging by the weekend. Voter turnout is estimated at roughly 60%, indicating strong public participation in what many see as a critical political turning point.
How Nepal’s Parliament Is Being Chosen
Voters directly elect 165 members to the lower house of parliament, the House of Representatives of Nepal. The remaining 110 seats in the 275-member chamber will be distributed through a proportional representation system, where political parties receive seats based on their share of the national vote.
Supporters gathered outside vote-counting centers across the country, including in the capital Kathmandu, where crowds cheered and chanted slogans backing their preferred candidates.
Three-Way Political Contest
The election is widely viewed as a three-way contest driven by public frustration with corruption and demands for more accountable governance.
A newcomer in national politics, the National Independent Party, has emerged as a strong challenger to two long-established political forces: the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist).
The new party’s prime ministerial candidate is Balendra Shah, who first gained national attention after winning the Kathmandu mayoral election in 2022. The 35-year-old politician also became a key figure during the 2025 protest movement that led to the removal of former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli.
Shah’s campaign has focused heavily on improving healthcare and education access for lower-income communities, while presenting himself as an alternative to traditional political elites.
Protests That Reshaped Nepal’s Politics
The parliamentary election follows months of political upheaval. Demonstrations erupted in 2025 after the government imposed a controversial social media ban. What began as protests against the restriction quickly expanded into a nationwide movement criticizing corruption and ineffective governance.
The unrest escalated into violent confrontations between protesters and security forces. Dozens of people were killed and hundreds injured during clashes that included attacks on government buildings and police gunfire.
The upheaval ultimately led to the collapse of the government and triggered the call for new parliamentary elections.
Young Voters Driving Change
Although the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party maintain loyal supporters across the country, the National Independent Party has attracted significant enthusiasm among younger voters. Large campaign rallies and growing social media support have highlighted the demand for new leadership and political reform.
As vote counting continues, the results are expected to determine whether Nepal’s established parties retain power or if a new political force emerges from the wave of protest-driven reform.
