KATHMANDU, Jan 21: Candidates across the country have enthusiastically registered to contest the House of Representatives (HoR) election scheduled for March 5, signaling renewed public engagement in the democratic process.
The Election Commission (EC) reported that a total of 3,481 candidacies were registered under the first-past-the-post electoral system by late Tuesday evening. Of these, 3,085 were male, 395 female, and one from the ‘other’ category. According to EC Deputy Spokesperson Sita Pun, the nomination process was still underway late into the night and the final number of candidates is expected to cross 3,500.
The nominations reflect a broad-based participation, including individuals who had earlier questioned the Gen Z–inspired movement of September 8 and 9 or challenged the dissolution of the House of Representatives in court. Some candidates filed nominations while still holding local government positions, while others resigned from provincial assemblies to contest the national election.
EC calls candidates to file nominations with required documents...
Women candidates account for 11 percent of the total nominations, according to EC Secretary Krishna Bahadur Raut. The list also includes 85 candidates with disabilities and 138 candidates from backward regions.
While nomination filing remained largely peaceful nationwide, minor clashes were reported in Jhapa-5 between cadres of the Rastriya Swatantra Party and the CPN-UML. The constituency has drawn national attention as former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Balendra Shah (Balen), who resigned as mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City to contest the election, are among the high-profile contenders there. The clashes followed a rally that violated the election code of conduct, which prohibits rallies, musical bands, and demonstrations during the nomination period. The EC’s response to the incident is expected to influence the tone of the campaign.
Several sitting members of the Council of Ministers resigned from their posts to enter the electoral fray. Energy Minister Kulman Ghising, Information Minister Jagdish Kharel, Sports Minister Bablu Gupta, and Education, Science and Technology Minister Mahabir Pun stepped down from their positions to contest the election. Ghising, Kharel, and Gupta have joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), while Mahabir Pun is contesting as an independent candidate.
Similarly, local government executives also vacated their offices to run for national office. Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah (Balen), Bharatpur Metropolitan City Mayor Renu Dahal, and Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City Mayor Harka Sampang resigned from their posts to participate in the election, contributing to what is expected to be a historically high proportion of young candidates in this year’s race.
Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari thanked political parties, candidates, security agencies, and other stakeholders for the generally smooth and peaceful completion of the nomination process, expressing hope for continued cooperation in the remaining phases of the election.
Prime Minister Sushila Karki said the successful completion of nominations across the country has brought an end to the confusion and uncertainty over the election. In a message issued Tuesday, she described the nomination process as another important milestone in Nepal’s democratic journey.
The prime minister expressed gratitude to all political parties and candidates who registered within the stipulated timeline, noting that the filing of more than 3,400 nominations for 165 HoR seats reflects the Nepali people’s deep trust in the democratic system. On behalf of the government, she also thanked the Election Commission for working round the clock to fulfill its responsibilities efficiently and urged political parties, civil society, and the media to play a constructive role in ensuring the success of this historic democratic exercise.
According to the election schedule, complaints against registered candidates can be filed on January 21 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Scrutiny of nominations and complaints will continue until 5:00 pm on January 22, with the final list of eligible candidates to be published the same evening. Candidates may withdraw their nominations on January 23, followed by the publication of the final list of candidates and the allocation of election symbols later that day.
