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Last Updated:March 05, 2026, 07:12 IST
Nepal Election 2026: Voting starts under tight security after last year's Gen Z protests. The election will replace interim leader Sushila Karki.
A polling official prepares a polling booth on the eve of Nepal’s parliamentary elections in Kathmandu on March 4, 2026. (AFP)
Nepal Election 2026 Live Updates: Voting has begun in Nepal, marking the country’s first election since last year’s massive Gen Z-led protests that toppled the government and resulted in the deaths of at least 77 people.
The polls are set to replace the interim administration led by Sushila Karki, which has been steering the Himalayan nation through a turbulent political transition. Authorities have tightened security as citizens head to the ballot in what is being seen as a crucial test for Nepal’s democratic stability.
The election is widely viewed as a major test for Nepal’s political old guard, who have dominated the Himalayan nation’s leadership for more than a decade — Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress, KP Sharma Oli of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) (CPN-UML), and Pushpa Kamal Dahal of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre).
Voters will choose 275 members of the House of Representatives, the lower house of Parliament, with 165 lawmakers elected directly under the first-past-the-post system and the remaining 110 seats allocated through proportional representation.
Nepal Election 2026 Live Updates: When Are The Results Expected To Be Announced?
Voting in Nepal will end at 5:00 pm on Thursday. However, counting ballots under the proportional representation system is likely to take more time, which means the final results may not be declared immediately.
Analysts believe the election is unlikely to deliver a clear majority for any single party. While full results could take several days to be announced, the process may stretch even longer if post-election negotiations to form a coalition government prove complex.
Nepal Election 2026 Live Updates: Polling Begins In Nepal General Election
Polling began on Thursday in Nepal for the country’s general elections, six months after deadly anti-corruption protests brought down the government, according to AFP.
Nearly 19 million voters are casting their ballots to decide who will replace the interim administration that has been in power since the September 2025 uprising. Voting is scheduled to conclude at 5:00 pm.
