KalimNews, March 9, 2026, Kathmandu : The counting of votes for Nepal’s 3rd Federal Parliamentary Election 2026 has officially concluded, and the results for 165 parliamentary seats have been declared by the Election Commission, Nepal. The outcome marks a historic moment in Nepal’s democratic journey, with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) emerging as the clear frontrunner across the country and moving toward forming a stable majority government after decades of political instability.
According to the results announced, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has secured 125 seats in the Pratinidhi Sabha, demonstrating a decisive nationwide mandate and signaling a major shift in the political preferences of the electorate.
With this overwhelming victory, Balendra Shah is expected to become the Prime Minister of Nepal, and if confirmed, he would become the youngest Prime Minister in the country’s history, symbolizing a new generation of leadership and governance.
Nepal’s Pratinidhi Sabha, the lower house of the federal parliament, consists of 275 members elected through two different systems.
165 members are elected through the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system, which involves direct voting in individual constituencies.
110 members are selected through the Proportional Representation (PR) system.
Under the proportional system, the entire country functions as a single constituency, and all votes are combined. Parliamentary seats are then allocated to political parties according to the percentage of votes they receive nationwide.
Among the other major political parties, the Nepali Congress has secured 18 seats, making it the second-largest party in the direct election results.
The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) (CPN-UML) has won 9 seats, while the Nepal Communist Party has secured 8 seats.
Meanwhile, the Shram Sanskriti Party headed by Harka Raj Rai has won 3 seats, and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party has obtained one seat.
In addition to party candidates, an independent candidate has also achieved victory. Mahabir Pun, the renowned scientist and innovator, has been declared elected from Myagdi–1, receiving 22,850 votes.
Pun is widely recognized as a Nepali innovator who played a key role in bridging the digital divide in remote Himalayan regions of Nepal by bringing internet connectivity and technological access to isolated mountain communities. His election campaign was also unique. Villagers donated money to support his campaign expenses, and many people voluntarily accompanied him during the campaign. He even told voters that they were free to decide their vote and should support him only if they believed in him.
The total valid votes counted in all the polling booths was 1,03,44,952 and the number of reciprocal votes secured by the major political parties during the poll were, Rastriya Swatantra Party – 4,967,043 votes, Nepali Congress – 1,684,175 votes, Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) – 1,400,247 votes, Nepal Communist Party – 7,61,680 votes, Shram Sanskriti Party – 349,140 votes, Rastriya Prajatantra Party – 3,23,535 votes, Janta Samajvadi Party – 170,158 votes.
According to the number of votes received by each party, proportional number of members are alloted and according to the Election Commission Nepal, the number of nominated members from each political party is 58 from Rastriya Swatantra Party, 19 from Nepali Congress, 16 from Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), 9 from Nepal Communist Party, 4 from Shram Sanskriti Party, and 3 from Rastriya Prajatantra Party.
These figures reflect the broad nationwide support enjoyed by the Rastriya Swatantra Party, confirming the scale of the political shift across Nepal.
Several prominent candidates have emerged victorious in this election. Among them: Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) of the Nepal Communist Party, contesting from Rukum East–1, received 10,240 votes.
Harka Raj Rai (Harka Sampang) of the Shram Sanskriti Party secured 35,741 votes. Independent candidate Mahabir Pun from Myagdi–1 received 22,850 votes.
Sudhan Gurung (GenZ leader) of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) was elected after securing 29,896 votes.
Meanwhile, media personality Rishi Raj Dhamala, who contested from Rautahat–4 of Madhesh Province, received only 655 votes.
The strong electoral performance of the Rastriya Swatantra Party is not limited to the federal level. In four out of the five provinces of Nepal, the party has emerged with an absolute majority, indicating a broad national shift in voter preference and growing support for new political leadership.
However, Karnali Province has presented a different electoral picture. Out of 12 seats in the province: 5 seats have been won by the Nepali Congress, 4 seats by the Nepal Communist Party, 1 seat by the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) and only 2 seats by the Rastriya Swatantra Party.
The scale of the RSP victory is historically significant for Nepal. Since the restoration of democracy in 1990, stable majority governments have been rare.
1991: Multiparty democracy restored; Nepali Congress wins an absolute majority.
1994: Mid-term elections result in a hung parliament, forcing coalition governments.
1999: Nepali Congress again gains a majority, but political instability continues.
2008–Present: Following the establishment of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, coalition governments have become the norm, with no single party obtaining a clear majority.
The 2026 election therefore represents a major turning point, as the Rastriya Swatantra Party now stands poised to form a stable government with a clear mandate from the people.
The results of the 2026 Federal Parliamentary Election reflect a significant transformation in Nepal’s political landscape, with voters demonstrating a strong inclination toward new leadership, transparency, and reform-oriented governance.
If the current trajectory continues, Nepal may soon witness its first strong single-party government in decades, led by Balen Shah, representing a generational change in leadership and a new chapter in Nepal’s democratic history.
Nepal now stands at the threshold of a new political era — one defined by stability, reform, and the aspirations of a new generation of citizens.
This election took place after a significant political development in the country. Following Gen Z–led political movement, the elected government headed by former Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli collapsed. Subsequently, the interim government led by Prime Minister Sushila Karki dissolved the House of Representatives and announced fresh elections. The current electoral process is therefore widely seen as an important moment in Nepal’s democratic evolution.
Among the candidates elected from the Rastriya Swatantra Party, several prominent leaders from across the country have secured victory: Balendra Shah from Jhapa–5, Rabi Lamichhane from Chitwan–2, Dol Prasad Aryal from Kathmandu–9, Swarnim Wagle from Tanahun–1, Bipin Kumar Acharya from Dang–2, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha from Kathmandu–8,
Deepak Raj Bohara from Kanchanpur–2, Manish Jha from Dhanusha–3, Nisha Dangi from Jhapa–1, Tosima Karki from Lalitpur–3, Sobita Gautam from Chitwan–3, Sudhan Gurung from Gorkha–1, Aashika Tamang from Dhading–1 and others.
These victories demonstrate the growing popularity of new political leadership and the increasing appeal of reform-oriented politics among voters.
The election results have also produced several surprising defeats. Among the prominent leaders who reportedly lost their contests are: K. P. Sharma Oli, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Gagan Kumar Thapa, Mahesh Basnet, Kulman Ghising, Bhim Rawal, Govind Bhattarai, Pradip Paudel, Bishnu Prasad Paudel etc.
The only prominent leader from traditional parties to secure victory is Pushpa Kamal Dahal, popularly known as Prachanda, of the Nepal Communist Party. He was elected from Rukum East District–1, securing 10,240 votes.
One of the most striking outcomes of the election is the victory of Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen, who has emerged as one of the most prominent figures in Nepal’s current political landscape. His strong electoral performance has strengthened his position as a leading prime ministerial contender of the Rastriya Swatantra Party.
Balendra Shah secured a landslide victory over former Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) in the Jhapa–5 constituency. Shah received 68,348 votes, while Oli managed 18,734 votes, giving Shah a decisive margin of 49,614 votes in what many observers describe as the epicentre of this election.
Observers consider this election to be both a challenge and an opportunity in Nepal’s evolving democratic journey and of course the vision of the supporters of GenZ movement.
This recurring transfer of public trust toward new political parties and leaders reflects the growing political awareness among citizens and their determination to reward performance while rejecting ineffective leadership.