Nepal prepares for the national election, which was necessitated following the collapse of KP Sharma Oli’s government in the height of Gen-Z rebellion (youth uprising) in September 2025, which is scheduled for 5 March. The Himalayan nation conducted the last general election in 2022 (and next polls were originally due in 2027), but due to the dissolution of Nepal’s lower house of Parliament last year by President Ram Chandra Poudel, the electoral process began under the patronage of an interim government, installed under the leadership of retired Supreme Court judge Sushila Karki on 12 September. The Hindu majority nation of over 29 million people will witness over 3,400 (including 390 women) candidates representing 68 political parties as well as independents vying for 165 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives.
At least four former Prime Ministers remain in the fray, where three mayors are also expected to try their luck in the electoral battles. Deposed premier Oli, 74, who leads Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) will face electoral challenges from Balendra Shah (who recently resigned as Kathmandu metropolitan city mayor and joined Rastriya Swatantra Party) in Jhapa-5 Parliamentary constituency of eastern Nepal. Balendra, 35, an engineer turned rapper turned politician, who was one of the protagonists in the anti-government protest demonstrations last year, is anticipated by local political observers as a tough contestant against the four-time premier of Nepal.
Other three former premiers, who are contesting in the Nepal election, include Pushpakamal Dahal (alias Prachanda, 71) of Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), Baburam Bhattarai, 71, of Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party and Madhav Kumar Nepal, 72, of Nepali Communist Party. Two former premiers namely Sher Bahadur Deuba (Nepali Congress) and Jhala Nath Khanal (NCP) however opted not contesting in the polls. Deuba was actually compelled to avoid the contest by the division of his party under the mentorship of Gagan Thapa, now recognized as the chief of Nepali Congress. Besides Balendra, two other candidates from mayoral positions including Harka Sampang (Dharan sub-metropolitan city) and Renu Dahal (Bharatpur metropolitan city) remain in the fray.
India, responding to the requests from the government and different political parties, continues extending logistical support to Nepal. Recently, the largest democracy on Earth, handed over more than 60 double-cab pickup vehicles along with other supplies to support Kathmandu’s preparation for the forthcoming polls. Those were formally received by Nepal’s home minister Om Prakash Aryal from Indian diplomat Rakesh Pandey. Thanking New Delhi for the support, minister Aryal stated that the assistance reflects the depth of trust and friendship between the two neighbours, reported The Kathmandu Post, a leading daily newspaper of the Himalayan nation. Mentionable is that, since 2008, New Delhi has been offering election-related assistance to Nepal, where this time over 600 vehicles are expected to deliver to its northern neighbour.
India gifts 60 vehicles to Nepal
