RSP Surges Ahead in Early Vote Count

The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has taken a strong early lead in the vote count for the House of Representatives election, according to the Election Commission of Nepal.

Counting is currently underway in 50 constituencies, with the RSP leading in 40 of them. Nepal held the nationwide election on Thursday, March 5, to choose the 275 members of the federal Lower House.

Early trends also show the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) ahead in five constituencies, while the Nepali Congress is leading in four. The Nepal Communist Party is ahead in one constituency. No party has formally secured a seat yet, as vote counting remains in its early stages.

The Election Commission said voter turnout was nearly 60 percent, the lowest in the past three and a half decades. In the previous House of Representatives election in 2022, voter turnout stood at 61.4 percent.

Key Constituency Trends

In Kathmandu–1 of Bagmati Province, Ranju Darshana Neupane of the RSP has taken a clear lead. Prabal Thapa Chhetri of the Nepali Congress is in second place, while Rabindra Mishra of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party is third.

Across the Kathmandu Valley, RSP candidates are performing strongly. The party is currently leading in all 10 constituencies in Kathmandu and both constituencies in Bhaktapur.

In Chitwan–2, RSP chairman Rabi Lamichhane remains in the lead.

In Jhapa–5, one of the most closely watched races of the election, RSP candidate Balendra Shah is holding a commanding lead over KP Sharma Oli, chairman of the CPN-UML. Shah’s vote tally is currently more than double that of Oli’s.