Kathmandu, March 6: Nepal’s parliamentary elections, held on Thursday, concluded in a largely peaceful atmosphere. However, the anticipated voter turnout reveals a concerning level of apathy among the electorate. This election, the first following the Gen Z movement, was expected to generate significant interest.
Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari stated in a press conference that preliminary reports indicate a voter turnout of approximately 60 percent nationwide.
If the final data confirms this figure, it will mark the lowest voter turnout since the general elections of 1991. In the 2022 elections, the turnout was recorded at 61.41 percent.
Bhandari noted, “Comprehensive data is still being compiled. Reports from various electoral constituencies indicate that voting is still ongoing at some polling centers, as voters who entered the polling stations within the designated time are casting their ballots.”
He also mentioned that, aside from a few isolated incidents, initial reports from national and international election observers indicate that the elections proceeded smoothly.
He added, “As the voting process concludes, the counting of votes will commence immediately after the ballot boxes are securely collected.” The Election Commission announced that ballot boxes from remote areas in 15 districts will be transported by helicopter.
According to the Commission, there are 18.9 million registered voters in the country. In some polling stations, citizens boycotted the elections due to dissatisfaction with the government.
Bhandari remarked, “This discontent is not directed at the Election Commission but rather at the government, which should take note.”
The new political landscape, arising from the Gen Z movement last September, led to these elections being held nearly two years ahead of schedule, resulting in the fall of former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s government.
Following his appointment as head of the government, the representative assembly was dissolved at the request of Gen Z leaders, who mandated new elections within six months.
According to Nepal’s Election Commission, more than two-thirds of the total voters are newly registered from the Gen Z age group, indicating an increase in youth participation ahead of the 2026 elections.
Under the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system, a total of 3,406 candidates are contesting, while 3,135 candidates are running under the proportional representation system.
My name is Himanshu Tiwari. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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