Kathmandu, March 5: Nepalis across the nation are casting their votes to elect a new House of Representatives. The election is seen as a chance to steady the country after months of unrest and political strain.
The vote comes nearly six months after the September 8 and 9 protests that forced a change in government and pushed the country into early elections. Prime Minister Sushila Karki, who took office on September 12 after the upheaval, has called on political parties, officials, and voters to act with restraint and help ensure a peaceful vote. She described the election as an attempt to move the country back onto a constitutional track.
More than 18.9 million voters are eligible to vote. The list includes 9.66 million men, 9.24 million women, and 200 voters registered under other categories. Another 186,142 temporary voters will also take part. Polls open at 7:00 AM and close at 5:00 PM across 10,967 polling locations and 23,112 polling centres across the country.
In the First Past the Post system, 65 political parties and independent candidates have fielded 3,406 candidates. Among them are 3,017 men, 388 women, and one candidate from another gender category. Under the proportional representation system, 3,135 candidates are competing. This group includes 1,363 men and 1,772 women, along with 1,143 independents.
Voters will elect 165 lawmakers directly from constituencies. Another 110 seats will be distributed among parties based on their share of votes across the country.
Security agencies have launched a large nationwide deployment to keep polling peaceful. Authorities have mobilized 79,727 soldiers from the Nepali Army, 75,797 personnel from Nepal Police, and 34,567 members of the Armed Police Force. Another 149,090 election police and more than 215,000 government staff are also on duty. Officers from the National Investigation Department are assisting with security and monitoring.
The Election Commission has arranged polling facilities in all seven provinces. Madhesh Province has the largest number of voters, more than 3.63 million, spread across 2,160 polling locations and 4,471 centres. Karnali Province has the smallest setup, with 941 locations and 1,437 centres serving just over one million voters.
The 275-member House of Representatives chosen today will shape government policy for the next five years. The parliament will also elect the prime minister.
The interim government announced the election almost two years earlier than expected after the September protests. At first, many political parties doubted the plan, yet the vote now stands as a major step to restore normal parliamentary politics and protect the constitution adopted by the Constituent Assembly.
Election officials say security agencies have found no organized effort to disrupt the vote. Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari said the strong presence of security personnel is meant to reassure voters.
For many citizens, today’s vote is about more than choosing parties. It is a chance to demand responsible leadership after years of political infighting, weak governance, and growing public frustration. Participation today will shape the direction of Nepal’s politics and its ability to move past the instability of recent months.
People’s News Monitoring Service
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