Historic Political Shift in Nepal: RSP Nears Absolute Majority as Vote Counting Continues

KalimNews, March 8, 2026, Kathmandu:  As vote counting continues across Nepal, results from 159 of the 165 parliamentary seats have already been declared, while counting remains underway in several constituencies. The emerging trend indicates a major political transformation in the country, with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) taking a decisive lead nationwide.

According to the results announced so far, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has secured 122 seats and is currently leading in five additional constituencies. If this trend continues, Nepal is set to witness the formation of a single-party government with an absolute majority, securing at least 122 seats in the 165-member Parliament. It is noteworthy to mention that 13 of the 122 elected candidates of RSP are women. Of the 16 fielded women contestants 3 failed to win. 

The Nepali Congress follows with 17 seats, while the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) (CPN-UML) have secured eight seats and the Nepal Communist Party have secured seven seats. Meanwhile, the Shram Sanskriti Party has won three seats, and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party has obtained one seat.

In addition, an Independent candidate, Mahabir Pun, the renowned scientist has also been declared elected. 

Pun is a renowned Nepali innovator who played a key role in bridging the digital divide in remote Himalayan regions of Nepal. By using low-cost wireless technology, he established a Wi-Fi network that initially connected 13 mountain villages and later expanded to more than 175 villages across 15 districts. His work earned international recognition, including the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award, and acknowledgment from organizations such as the Ashoka Foundation and the Global Ideas Bank.

In 2012, Pun led the establishment of the National Innovation Center to promote research and technological innovation in Nepal. In 2023, he published the book Mahabir Pun: Samjhana, Sapana ra Abiral Yatra, a 308-page account of his life and work. The book also supported a nationwide innovation campaign, raising over NPR 30 million for innovation initiatives and encouraging greater government and public support for technological development in the country.

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.

However, Karnali Province has presented a different electoral picture. Out of 12 seats in the province, five seats have been won by the Nepali Congress, four seats by the Nepal Communist Party, and one seat by the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist). The Rastriya Swatantra Party has secured two seats in Karnali Province.

This election took place after a significant political development in the country. Following a 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

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

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.

If the current trend continues, this election could mark a historic moment in Nepal’s political history. After the first general election held in 1959, this may become the first time that a single political party forms a government with an absolute majority in Parliament.

For the past 75 years, Nepali citizens have been exercising their democratic voting rights. Since the first election in 1959, Nepal has conducted nine parliamentary elections, including the two elections held for the Rastriya Panchayat in 1981 and 1986 during the 30-year partyless Panchayat system.

Following the restoration of multiparty democracy in 1990, the country has held seven parliamentary elections and two Constituent Assembly elections. The current election therefore represents another significant milestone in Nepal’s democratic evolution.

Observers consider this election to be both a challenge and an opportunity in Nepal’s evolving democratic journey.

Looking back at previous elections, Nepali voters have consistently exercised their sovereign power to shift mandates either to new political forces or between traditional parties. In many instances, voters have held incumbent leaders and ruling parties accountable for unmet promises and governance failures.

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.

Vote counting continues in the last 6 constituencies and the final results will be confirmed only after the counting process is fully completed.

These elections are being closely watched across the country, as they highlight changing political dynamics, the rise of new leadership, and the increasing participation of voters in shaping Nepal’s democratic future. Many analysts believe the outcome could mark a turning point in the nation’s political landscape.