India, on March 5, 2026, acknowledged the successful completion of the General Elections in Nepal, expressing eagerness to collaborate with the incoming government in bolstering bilateral relations. The official spokesperson from the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, responded to inquiries from the media, stating, “We welcome the successful conduct of elections and the exercise of their democratic mandate by the citizens of Nepal today, which has seen enthusiastic participation.” Jaiswal extended congratulations to Prime Minister Sushila Karki, the Nepalese government, and its citizens for effectively organizing the elections, particularly in light of the challenging circumstances faced last year. He emphasized India’s commitment to supporting peace, progress, and stability within Nepal, highlighting that India provided logistical assistance as requested by the Nepalese government for the smooth execution of the electoral process.

Voting Concludes Amid Strong Public Participation

The voting process for Nepal’s 2026 General Elections concluded today, with ballot boxes sealed at polling stations across the country after official voting hours ended at 5 PM local time. The elections were considered a pivotal moment for Nepal, attracting participation from senior political leaders mobilizing their respective party campaigns. This electoral exercise was conducted in a single phase across all 77 districts, commencing at 7 AM. According to figures, approximately 18,903,689 eligible voters engaged in electing 275 members of the House of Representatives, marking a significant demographic shift with more than 915,000 new voters since the last elections in 2022.

Demographic Shifts and Candidate Diversity in Elections

Notably, 52 percent of the electorate falls within the 18 to 40 age bracket, suggesting a significant youth impact on electoral outcomes. This election features a diverse pool of 6,541 candidates competing in various electoral systems. Under the first-past-the-post system, 3,406 candidates, including 1,143 independents, are contending for 165 seats. Simultaneously, for the 110 seats designated for proportional representation, 63 political parties have fielded a total of 3,135 candidates.

Security Measures and Election Commission Preparedness

To facilitate this extensive voting process, the Election Commission of Nepal has established 23,112 polling centers across 10,963 polling stations nationwide. A robust security framework has been implemented to ensure a peaceful voting environment, with 341,113 personnel, including 149,000 temporary “election police,” deployed specifically for this event. The Election Commission has committed to a prompt conclusion of the voting results, aiming to publish the first-past-the-post outcomes within 24 hours of counting commencement.

Political Context Following Recent Unrest

These critical snap elections were prompted by the “Gen Z movement” that occurred in September, which led to the dissolution of the coalition government led by KP Sharma Oli and the subsequent unseating of the House of Representatives. This resulted in the appointment of Sushila Karki as the executive head on September 12. The Election Commission, supported by the Karki-led administration, has confirmed all necessary arrangements are in place to restore the country to an elected governance structure following a six-month interim period.

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