Election officials in Nepal began counting votes Friday, with the Election Commission reporting that it had started in 53 of the 165 constituencies by morning and expected counting to begin in the rest by the end of the day. The counting follows parliamentary elections held the day before, described as Nepal’s first nationwide poll since a violent, youth-led uprising forced the former government from power in September.
In the days leading into the count, election officials said the logistics of reaching far-flung polling locations would shape the timing. Some polling stations sit high in remote mountain villages, accessible only after days of hiking, so authorities arranged transport of ballot boxes by helicopter to counting centers.
Crowds gathered outside the facilities where votes were being counted. In Kathmandu, supporters cheered and chanted slogans in favor of their candidates as officials worked through ballots across the country.
Election officials said results were expected by the weekend, and they estimated voter turnout at around 60%. Voters were choosing members for the lower house, the House of Representatives: 165 seats come from direct elections in constituencies, while the remaining 110 seats are allocated through proportional representation, with parties nominating lawmakers based on their share of the vote.
The election was widely seen as a three-way contest shaped by voter frustration over widespread corruption and demands for greater government accountability. The National Independent Party, founded in 2022, was viewed as the front-runner and as posing a strong challenge to the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), two parties that have long dominated Nepal’s political scene.
The National Independent Party’s prime ministerial candidate is Balendra Shah, an ex-rapper turned politician who won the 2022 Kathmandu mayoral race and emerged as a leading figure in the 2025 uprising that ousted former prime minister Khadga Prasad Oli. In his campaign, Shah emphasized health and education for poor Nepalis, while supporters also turned out in larger numbers on the campaign trail, particularly among younger voters seeking an alternative to traditional political parties.
The 2025 protests against corruption and poor governance were triggered by a social media ban and then snowballed into a popular revolt against the government. Dozens were killed and hundreds injured when protesters attacked government buildings and police opened fire, setting the stage for the new political environment in which Friday’s vote count is unfolding.
The count is continuing as supporters wait for initial figures, with officials working to complete the remaining constituency tallies before the weekend.