Nepal holds first general election since government collapse

Following the collapse of the previous goverment, Nepal hold it's first parliamentary elections today (March 5).

Polling began at 7:00am (local time) and will continue until 5:00pm.

The contest widely seen as a test between the country’s young political forces and established parties.

Nearly 19 million registered voters are eligible to cast ballots in the election for the lower house of parliament, the House of Representatives, including around 8,00,000 first-time voters.

A total of 275 lawmakers will be elected through a mixed system of direct voting—First-Past-The-Post—and proportional representation.

More than 3,400 candidates are contesting the election, with many under the age of 40.

Alongside the country’s traditional political parties, a new political force led by former rapper and ex-Kathmandu mayor Balen Shah is competing in the race. Ousted prime minister K P Sharma Oli is also contesting the election.

Both candidates are running from Jhapa in eastern Nepal.

Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari said preliminary results are expected within 24 hours, while final results may take several days, especially if coalition negotiations become complex.

Analysts say it is unlikely that any single party will secure an outright majority.

The election follows the fall of Oli’s government in September amid a Gen-Z-led protest movement. An interim administration was later formed under Sushila Karki, who was sworn in as the country’s first female chief adviser to lead the transitional government.