KATHMANDU, Dec 22: The Election Commission (EC) has determined the percentage of inclusive groups for the proportional representation system in the upcoming elections, in line with the House of Representatives Election (First Amendment) Ordinance, 2025.
President Ram Chandra Paudel issued the ordinance on Friday, acting on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, under Article 114(1) of the Constitution of Nepal. The government had proposed amending Schedule 1 of the Act based on population data from the 2021 census to reflect updated percentages of Dalits, indigenous nationalities, Khas Arya, Madhesi, Tharu, and Muslim communities.
Polls 88 days away, process for proportional representation be...
According to EC spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, political parties nominating candidates under the proportional representation system must now submit lists that align with the percentages of inclusive groups derived from the latest census.
Census comparisons show slight demographic shifts over the last decade: the Dalit population fell from 13.8% in 2011 to 13.4% in 2021, Indigenous nationalities from 28.7% to 28.2%, and Khas Arya from 31.2% to 30.3%. The Tharu community decreased slightly from 6.6% to 6.5%, while Muslim and Madhesi populations saw modest increases, with Muslims rising from 4.4% to 4.9% and Madhesis from 15.3% to 16.3%.
The amendment ensures that the proportional representation system in the upcoming HoR election on March 5, reflects these updated demographics. Political parties must submit their closed candidate lists based on the inclusive percentages by December 29, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
To guide parties in implementing the revised system, the EC is conducting training sessions on December 23–24, covering the procedures and methods for preparing the list of candidates under the new inclusive quota framework. Representatives from both existing and newly registered political parties can participate in proportional representation.
Meanwhile, a multi-party discussion is scheduled for Monday at Singha Durbar, bringing together Prime Minister Sushila Karki, party representatives, and the EC to review election preparations, security arrangements, management, and legal amendments. According to the EC, this meeting will collect feedbacks from all stakeholders ahead of the polls.
