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Old parties dig in, new ones offer change as Nepal heads to the polls

March 02, 2026 4 min read International Relations GS2 (India's Neighbourhood International Relations)
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What Happened

  • Nepal held a general election on March 5, 2026, with over 18.9 million registered voters choosing members of the 275-seat House of Representatives.
  • The election followed the September 2025 Gen Z-led youth uprising that toppled the government of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli (CPN-UML), in which at least 77 people were killed in protests initially triggered by a social media ban that rapidly expanded into broader demands against corruption and economic stagnation.
  • An interim government administered the country until the election, with more than 3,400 candidates from 65 political parties — including dozens of newcomers — contesting seats.
  • The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by former rapper-turned-Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah and party head Rabi Lamichhane, emerged as the political expression of the youth movement and went on to win 182 of 275 seats — a near-supermajority — with a proportional vote share of 47.8%.
  • Veteran CPN-UML leader K.P. Sharma Oli suffered a personal electoral defeat, losing his own constituency, as his party won just 25 seats in their worst-ever result.
  • The Nepali Congress, which had nominated younger leader Gagan Thapa as its prime ministerial candidate, finished second with 38 seats.

Static Topic Bridges

Nepal's Political System and Constitutional Framework

Nepal adopted its constitution in 2015, establishing a federal democratic republic with a bicameral parliament — a 275-member House of Representatives (lower house) elected through a mixed system of First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) and Proportional Representation (PR), and a 59-member National Assembly (upper house). The country has a President as constitutional head and a Prime Minister as executive head. Nepal has seen significant political instability since the abolition of the monarchy in 2008, with frequent changes in government driven by coalition politics among the major parties — Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and CPN (Maoist Centre).

  • 165 seats are filled by FPTP and 110 by proportional representation in the House of Representatives.
  • The 2022 elections produced a fragmented parliament requiring multi-party coalitions; the 2026 result gave the RSP an unprecedented near-majority.
  • Nepal's constitution mandates federal, provincial, and local governance in a three-tier structure.

Connection to this news: The RSP's landslide win under the mixed electoral system marks a historic departure from the coalition-driven instability that characterised Nepali politics since 2008 — the party won 125 FPTP seats directly and 57 through PR.

India-Nepal Relations: Treaties, Disputes, and Strategic Stakes

India and Nepal share an open border under the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship, allowing free movement of people and goods — a relationship unique in the region. However, the treaty has long been viewed in Nepal as asymmetric and favoring India. Key tensions include the Kalapani-Lipulekh-Limpiyadhura territorial dispute, where Nepal claims approximately 400 sq km administered by India in Uttarakhand. India's influence in Nepal is also shaped by its role as Nepal's largest trade partner, primary transit route, and major source of remittances for Nepali workers.

  • The 1950 Treaty provides Indian and Nepali citizens reciprocal rights to residence, property ownership, and participation in trade and commerce in each other's territory.
  • In 2020, Nepal published a new political map incorporating Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura as Nepali territory, escalating a dormant boundary dispute.
  • RSP has signalled interest in renegotiating the 1950 treaty and has been expected to take a firmer stance on the territorial dispute.
  • India's Prime Minister Modi congratulated the RSP on its victory and pledged close cooperation, calling it a "proud moment" for Nepal's democracy.

Connection to this news: A new government led by the RSP — with a strong popular mandate — will face domestic pressure to renegotiate India-Nepal agreements, potentially reframing the bilateral relationship on more equal terms.

Nepal's Gen Z Protests in Comparative Context: Civic Movements and Democratic Change

The September 2025 protests in Nepal were part of a broader global pattern of youth-led civic movements that have toppled or pressured established governments — comparable to the 2024 Bangladesh student uprising that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and earlier movements in Sudan (2019) and Lebanon (2019). These movements share common features: urban youth anger over corruption and economic mismanagement, amplification via social media, and rapid political realignment. Nepal's protests were initially triggered by the government's attempt to ban TikTok and other social media platforms.

  • The Oli government's social media ban in 2023 was partially reversed, but the 2025 reimposition became the spark for large-scale street protests.
  • At least 77 protesters died during the September 2025 uprising — among the highest tolls in Nepal's democratic era.
  • The RSP, founded in 2022, transformed from a regional to a national force by channeling Gen Z grievances into electoral politics.

Connection to this news: Nepal's election demonstrates that digital-native youth movements can translate street power into lasting electoral change, a pattern with implications for democratic politics across South Asia.

Key Facts & Data

  • Nepal has a 275-seat House of Representatives; a majority requires 138 seats — RSP won 182.
  • RSP's 47.8% proportional vote share is the highest for any party since Nepal's PR system was introduced in 2008.
  • CPN-UML's 25-seat outcome is its worst electoral performance in its history.
  • Nepal borders India across five Indian states: Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Sikkim.
  • Nepal is a landlocked country entirely dependent on India for third-country trade transit, making India-Nepal economic ties structurally significant.
  • The 1950 India-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship is the foundational bilateral agreement; its renegotiation has been recommended by the Eminent Persons' Group (EPG) report submitted in 2018 but not formally acted upon.
  • India is Nepal's largest trade partner, accounting for over 60% of Nepal's total trade.