Nepal election results highlights: Counting to begin after collection of ballot papers as nation sees peaceful voting

Nepal's general elections saw a preliminary voter turnout of around 60%, mostly from the Gen Z demographic, contributing to the "unprecedented" energy at the polls, as per news agency ANI. The Election Commission attributed the successful conduct to improved voter education, cooperation from political parties, and robust security measures. The election held in Nepal on Thursday was overall peaceful. After the Gen Z protest, the reputations of the Nepal government and the Election Commission were at stake regarding this election. After voting ended at 5 pm, the Officiating Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari thanked the people of Nepal.

Jhapa District Election Officer Tulsi Nepal said that vote counting will commence following the decision of an all-party meeting to be held after the collection of all ballot boxes. He added that counting is scheduled to begin from midnight tonight.

Sharing details about the counting process, Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said, “All returning officers have already started submitting ballot boxes to the counting centres. The counting process will start at night in some constituencies only.”

"First, the FPTP votes will be counted, and those results will be published. After that, we will start counting the proportional votes. This process will take some time, and we can expect the final results within 15 days," he added.

Mentioning India's support in this election, Joint Secretary and Spokesperson of the Nepal Election Commission, Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, said, "India, as a neighbouring country, has been very supportive of us in this election. They have provided vehicles and other assistance. Nepal and India are close neighbours not only in terms of geography but also in social, economic, and cultural ties."

Speaking to ANI, on the general elections, Joint Secretary and Spokesperson of the Nepal Election Commission, Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, says, "We have conducted the voting process. According to primary data, the vote cast is about 60 per cent all over the country. As per the expectation, the voting process was quite safe and voters were excited to participate in the voting process."

On being asked about the challenges for this election, Bhattarai said, "This election was planned in special circumstances. There were some doubts among the people about the success of the selection, but due to the effective cooperation from political parties, candidates, all voters, Govt of Nepal, the private sector, the media and all sectors, we were able to successfully conclude the elections."

Nepal election results LIVE: In the direct voting system, the candidate with the maximum number of votes will win. Under the proportionate voting system, seats are allocated to political parties in proportion to their vote share.

Nepal election results LIVE: India on Thursday welcomed the successful conduct of elections in Nepal and expressed its readiness to work closely with the new government to strengthen bilateral ties.

In response to media queries following the conclusion of the Nepal General Election earlier today, Official Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal said, "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. We congratulate Prime Minister Sushila Karki, the Government and the people of Nepal as well as various stakeholders for successfully holding these polls, which took place against the backdrop of exceptional circumstances last year."

Jaiswal emphasised India's continued support for peace, progress, and stability in Nepal, noting that India provided logistical supplies as requested by the Government of Nepal for the smooth conduct of elections.

Highlighting the importance of bilateral ties, the spokesperson added, "We look forward to working with the new Government of Nepal to further build on the robust multifaceted ties between our two countries and peoples for mutual benefit." (ANI)

Nepal election results LIVE: While nearly 65 political parties are in the fray to hold Nepal's top office, there are three main contenders: a rapper-turned-politician, a youth leader, and a communist veteran. First is Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen, who is seen as a front-runner after emerging as a key figure during the election campaign. He was elected mayor of Kathmandu in 2022 and later left the post to become the prime ministerial candidate of the National Independent Party. Another contender is Gagan Thapa, the new young leader of the Nepali Congress, one of the country's oldest key political parties, a liberal democratic party with close ties to India. Lastly, there is Khadga Prasad Oli, the controversial yet strong communist leader whose government was toppled by the Gen Z protests in 2025. Notably, three-time PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who now leads the Nepali Communist Party, is also in the fray.

Nepal election results LIVE: Nepal voted on Thursday for a new parliament in a high-stakes showdown between an entrenched old guard and a powerful youth movement, six months after deadly anti-corruption protests toppled the government.

Key figures contesting for power include the Marxist former prime minister seeking a return to office, a rapper-turned-mayor bidding for the youth vote, and the newly elected leader of the powerful Nepali Congress party.

Election commission officials collected ballot boxes after voting closed, with papers taken under guard to centres before counting.

"The voting process has been concluded peacefully and enthusiastically," Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari told reporters, saying turnout had been around 60 percent according to initial estimates.

Some winners are expected to be published as early as Friday, but full results may take several days.

It may then take time before a government is formed if, as many analysts expect, no party wins an outright majority. (AFP)

Nepal election results LIVE: Ballot boxes from Nepal’s remote areas are now being airlifted by helicopters for transport to the designated vote counting centres, as per a report by Nepal News.

Nepal election results LIVE: The Election Commission said it has made all necessary arrangements to declare the results within 24 hours of the vote count. It added that counting for the proportional representation category will begin only after the results of the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system are announced, as per a report by Nepal news.

Nepal election results LIVE: More than 3,400 candidates are contesting 165 seats through direct elections for the 275-member House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament. Another 110 seats will be allocated through party lists.

Nepal’s rugged mountainous terrain poses logistical challenges in transporting ballot boxes once voting ends.

Results under the proportional representation system are expected to take longer.

Analysts say the election is unlikely to produce a clear majority for any single party.

Final results could take several days, and forming a coalition government may take even longer if negotiations between parties prove difficult. Voting will close at 5:00 pm.

Nepal election results LIVE: Voting was peaceful in Nepal's first nationwide election Thursday since a violent, youth-led uprising forced the government from power in September.

Turnout was about 60% and only a few minor incidents were reported, according to Nepal’s acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari.

Vote counting would begin immediately after the ballot boxes are collected and transported to counting centers across the Himalayan nation, which could be as early as Thursday night. Results were expected by the weekend. Helicopters will be used to ferry boxes from polling stations in remote mountain villages in the northern region by Friday morning, Bhandari said.

The next administration is expected to inherit daunting challenges. It must deliver on changes demanded by last year’s protests, tackle entrenched corruption and carefully manage ties with its powerful neighbors, India and China. (AP)

Nepal election results LIVE: Nepal voted on Thursday for a new parliament in a high-stakes showdown between an entrenched old guard and a powerful youth movement, six months after deadly anti-corruption protests toppled the government.

Key figures contesting for power include the Marxist former prime minister seeking a return to office, a rapper-turned-mayor bidding for the youth vote, and the newly elected leader of the powerful Nepali Congress party.

Election commission officials collected ballot boxes after voting closed, with papers taken under guard to centres before counting. (AFP)

Nepal election results LIVE: Election Commission Nepal had announced that the movement of both public and private vehicles will be suspended from midnight on March 4 until voting ends on March 5.

The restriction is expected to uplift as the voting has ended now.

Nepal election results LIVE: More than 3,400 candidates are contesting 165 seats through direct elections for the 275-member House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament. Another 110 seats will be allocated through party lists.

Nepal’s rugged mountainous terrain poses logistical challenges in transporting ballot boxes once voting ends.

Results under the proportional representation system are expected to take longer.

Analysts say the election is unlikely to produce a clear majority for any single party.

Final results could take several days, and forming a coalition government may take even longer if negotiations between parties prove difficult. Voting will close at 5:00 pm.

Nepal election LIVE updates: Nepal awaits the results of crucial post-uprising elections as vote counting begins after polling concluded across the country.

Nepal election LIVE updates: Voting has concluded and counting of ballots will begin shortly to determine the country’s next prime minister. The election follows months of Gen Z-led protests that reshaped the political landscape.

Nepal election LIVE updates: Nepal voted on Thursday for a new parliament in a high-stakes showdown between an entrenched old guard and a powerful youth movement, six months after deadly anti-corruption protests toppled the government.

Key figures contesting for power include the Marxist former prime minister seeking a return to office, a rapper-turned-mayor bidding for the youth vote, and the newly elected leader of the powerful Nepali Congress party.

"Nepalis have been waiting for change for so long, from one system to another," said Nilanta Shakya, 60, a retired engineer, who was among the first to vote at a college in the capital, Kathmandu.

"I hope there is a meaningful change this time," she added.

Nearly 19 million voters are choosing who replaces the interim government in place since the September 2025 uprising, in which at least 77 people were killed, and parliament and scores of government buildings were torched.

Youth-led protests under a loose Gen Z banner began as a demonstration against a brief social media ban, but were fed by wider grievances at corruption and a woeful economy. (AFP)

Nepal election LIVE updates: Former Prime Minister of Nepal, KP Sharma Oli, on Thursday cast his vote at a polling station in Bhaktapur for the General Elections 2026.

Oli, who is the Prime Ministerial candidate for the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML), participated in the democratic process as the country holds its national polls to elect a new government. The CPN-UML leader's participation comes amidst a significant electoral contest, where he remains a central figure in the race for the premiership.

The 2026 General Elections are seen as a crucial juncture for the Himalayan nation, with high-level leaders across the political spectrum mobilising to exercise their franchise and lead their respective party campaigns. This high-stakes electoral process is taking place in a single phase across all 77 districts, with polling scheduled from 7 am to 5 pm.

According to a report by The Kathmandu Post, a total of 18,903,689 eligible voters are participating in the election to elect 275 members of the House of Representatives. The 2026 polls have seen a notable demographic shift, with an increase of over 915,000 voters since 2022.

Crucially, 52 per cent of the electorate is now aged between 18 and 40, reflecting a significant youth influence on the national outcome. The election features a diverse field of 6,541 candidates competing across various systems to represent this evolving demographic. (ANI)

Nepal election LIVE updates: Nepal which went to polls on Thursday, the first since a violent Gen Z protest that toppled the K P Sharma Oli-led government last year, recorded a turnout of about 18 per cent till noon, according to the Election Commission.

The Election Commission said that around 3.16 million people have exercised their franchise till 12 pm, with the voting process going smoothly.

Voting is ongoing smoothly across the country with minor incidents in a very few places, Election Commissioner Sagun Shumsher Rana was quoted as saying by the Kathmandu Post.

More than 18.9 million eligible Nepalese are exercising their franchise to elect the 275-member House of Representatives from among the 3,406 candidates vying for 165 seats under direct voting, and 3,135 candidates vying for 110 seats through proportionate voting.

The voting started at 7 am and will conclude at 5 pm. The counting will start immediately after the ballot boxes are collected.

Nepal Police confirmed that apart from minor disagreements at a few locations, no serious problems had occurred. (PTI)

Nepal election LIVE updates: Voting was peaceful Thursday in Nepal's first nationwide election since a violent, youth-led uprising forced the government from power in September.

Security forces patrolled streets and guarded polling stations across the Himalayan nation of about 30 million people as voters lined up to cast their ballots. Vote counting is set to begin later Thursday, with results expected over the weekend.

Campaigning and voting through Thursday had not been disrupted by any incidents of violence, officials said.

“There is huge excitement about this election among the people, and we anticipate the voter turnout to be at least 65%,” Nepal’s acting chief election commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari said.

Authorities banned vehicles from the streets and prohibited political rallies and public gatherings. All forms of campaigning are barred on election day. (AP)

Nepal election LIVE updates: Nepal recorded a nationwide voter turnout of 24 percent by 1pm on Thursday, according to the Election Commission.

The Kathmandu Valley reported higher participation, with a combined turnout of 36 percent. Kathmandu district led with 41 percent, followed by Lalitpur at 31 percent and Bhaktapur at 24 percent.

Nepal election LIVE updates: Key Contenders: Former PM seeking comeback, rapper-turned-mayor Balen Shah, and new Nepali Congress chief Gagan Thapa

Voting Time: Polling began at 07:00 am (6:45 IST)

Electorate: Nearly 19 million voters

Seats at Stake: 275 in the House of Representatives

System: 165 seats via first-past-the-post, 110 via proportional representation

Context: First election since the September 2025 uprising that left at least 77 dead and toppled the government

Nepal election LIVE updates: Voter turnout in Nepal’s parliamentary elections reached around 18 percent by noon on Thursday, according to the Election Commission.

Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said a total of 3,163,736 ballots had been cast nationwide by 12 pm.