Election Fever Grips Nepal: 52-Day Countdown to General Elections Begins

KATHMANDU — With exactly 52 days remaining until the high-stakes House of Representatives (HoR) elections on March 5, 2026, Nepal’s Election Commission (EC) has moved into its most critical operational phase. Today, January 12, marks a definitive milestone in the electoral calendar: the final deadline for candidates under the Proportional Representation (PR) category to withdraw their names from the closed lists.

This election is widely regarded as a “reset” for Nepal, following the massive Gen-Z-led protests of September 2025 that led to the dissolution of the previous parliament and the appointment of the interim government under Prime Minister Sushila Karki.

PR Lists Finalized: A Strategic Clearing

Election Officer Krishna Bahadur Raut confirmed that the office began accepting withdrawal applications today at 10:00 AM. Under the Proportional Representation system—which accounts for 110 of the 275 seats in the HoR—political parties had previously submitted “closed lists” of candidates.

“Today is the final opportunity for candidates to opt-out or for parties to make adjustments based on internal consensus,” Raut stated. “Following today’s 5:00 PM deadline, these lists will be locked, and the Commission will begin the final vetting process to ensure all candidates meet the legal requirements, including the mandatory 33% female representation and ethnic cluster quotas.”

The “Green Election” Mandate

In a move that reflects the environmental concerns of the younger electorate, the EC officially launched its “Green Election Campaign” yesterday. Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai announced that for the first time, the Commission and participating parties must adhere to strict sustainability protocols:

• Digital-First Campaigning: Encouraging social media and digital platforms to reduce paper waste.

• Plastic Ban: A total ban on plastic-coated posters, banners, and flexes.

• Eco-Friendly Booths: Promoting the use of biodegradable materials at polling stations.

Political Landscape: Alliances and New Blood

The political atmosphere remains volatile as established giants and new “alternative” forces scramble for dominance.

• The “Big Two” Alliance: Traditional rivals Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML have intensified talks regarding a seat-sharing arrangement for the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) seats to counter the surge of independent candidates.

• The New Wave: Over 120 political parties have registered for this election, a record high. Parties like the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and new youth-led groups born from the “Gen-Z Uprising” are expected to challenge the old guard in urban centers.

• Interim Oversight: PM Sushila Karki met with EC officials on Friday to ensure that the security plan—which includes the recruitment of nearly 100,000 temporary police—is fully funded and ready for deployment.

Key Upcoming Deadlines

Date	Milestone
Jan 25, 2026	National Assembly (Upper House) Elections
Early Feb 2026	Final Publication of PR Candidate Lists
Feb 2026 (TBD)	FPTP Candidate Nominations
March 5, 2026	ELECTION DAY

As the nation enters this 52-day sprint, the focus shifts from the bureaucratic halls of the Election Commission to the streets, where candidates will now begin formal door-to-door campaigning.