Nepal elections 2026 LIVE: Nepal goes to polls months after Gen Z protest
The Hindu
Nepal elections 2026: Follow the latest updates on March 5, 2026
Nepalese citizens on Thursday morning (March 5, 2026) started to reach polling booths in all 165 constituencies amid tight security to cast their vote in the crucial general election, the first since a violent Gen-Z protest that toppled the K.P. Sharma Oli-led government last year.
Also read: Nepal’s general election on March 5 seeks political change
The election is being held two years ahead of schedule because of the two-day Gen Z protests. The polls follow last September’s youth-led movement against corruption, misgovernance, and a patronage-driven economy long associated with an ageing political class.
Also read: Nepal goes to polls amid domestic upheaval and regional power plays
More than 18.9 million eligible Nepalese will be exercising their franchise to elect the 275-member House of Representatives from among the 3,406 candidates vying for 165 seats under direct voting, and 3,135 candidates vying for 110 seats through proportionate voting.
The voting started at 7 a.m. and will conclude at 5 p.m. The counting will start immediately after the ballot boxes are collected.
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