Nepal Launches Campaigns for March 5 Elections

Political parties in Nepal launched their official campaigns on Monday for the March 5 parliamentary elections, marking the first national vote since youth-led anticorruption protests toppled the government of K.P. Sharma Oli in 2025. Candidates across the country began door-to-door visits, public meetings, and rallies as Election Commission restrictions on campaigning lifted late Sunday.

The commission has designated February 16 to March 2 for formal election activities, including processions, corner meetings, and the use of loudspeakers. All campaigning must cease at midnight on March 2, entering a 48-hour silent period before polls open. This election features 18,903,689 eligible voters, an increase of 915,119 from the 2022 parliamentary vote, with many new registrants among younger demographics.

The Lower House of Parliament comprises 275 seats, with 165 filled through the first-past-the-post system and 110 through proportional representation. A total of 3,406 candidates are competing, including about 3,400 in the direct voting category and 3,200 in proportional, alongside roughly 1,160 independents vying for first-past-the-post seats. The commission has printed more than 20...