A supermajority for RSP leaves Nepal’s Parliament with weakest Opposition

Nepal's Parliament faces weakened opposition after RSP's election dominance, raising concerns over accountability and democratic norms.

Nepal is set to have the weakest Opposition it has seen in recent history.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) swept the March 5 elections, securing 182 seats in the 275-member Parliament, just two short of a two-thirds majority. Established parties such as the Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML, which have dominated Nepali politics since 1990, have been reduced to 38 and 25 seats, respectively.

The unprecedented mandate gives the RSP an opportunity to push legislation through and take decisions without significant hindrance. Analysts, however, caution that such a lopsided Parliament carries risks.

Chandrakishore, a political commentator, says parliamentary deliberations are a cornerstone of democracy, and it is in Parliament that the government of the day is held accountable.

“With a weak Opposition, the government may act waywardly and take wilful decisions,” he said. “This could test democratic norms.”

Ballot counting is over in Nepal after the March 5 election—the first the country has held since the Gen Z protests of September last year—and the electorate has delivered a massive mandate to the RSP, a party barely four years old.