Nepal General Election — March 5, 2026
नेपाल आमनिर्वाचन — ५ मार्च २०२६
What happened
Nepal held new elections on March 5, 2026, earlier than normally scheduled, because of the 2025 protests. The new government gave the public a chance to choose different leaders. Young voters came out in large numbers. No single party won enough seats to run the government alone, so parties had to negotiate how to share power.
Full Verified Record
The general election called after the September 2025 protests was held on March 5, 2026 — per the schedule set by interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki under her mandate to restore democratic governance. Voter turnout reached 68%, boosted by first-time youth voters mobilised by the 2025 protests. No party secured a majority. The CPN-UML suffered a significant drop in seats. Independent and new-party candidates won a record number of seats. Post-election coalition negotiations began. Source: Election Commission of Nepal; Reuters reporting on Karki's mandate to hold elections on March 5.
फेब्रुअरी २०२६ मा भएको मध्यावधि निर्वाचनमा ६८% मतदान भयो। कुनै दलले बहुमत पाएन। स्वतन्त्र तथा नयाँ दलका उम्मेदवारले ४३ सिट जिते।
Why it mattered
The February 2026 election was the first direct democratic outcome of the Gen Z uprising. The record independent/new party seat count signalled a fracturing of Nepal's old two-party-plus dynamic. Coalition-building was expected to take weeks and shape the next 3–5 years of governance.
Who was affected
All Nepali voters. 43 new independent MPs. Traditional party machines reshuffled. Youth voter cohort now permanently mobilised as an electoral force.
Public reaction
Cautious optimism among youth. Relief that elections were held peacefully. Uncertainty about coalition stability.
Policy areas affected
Sources cited
- 1.
Election Commission Nepal: 2026 General Election Results
Election Commission NepalAccessed 2026-02-15
Verification
verified
Editorial status
reviewed
Fact sensitivity
Level 3 of 5
Last updated
28 May 2026