Election in 79 days: 14 political parties to skip PR system

KATHMANDU: As Nepal prepares for its next House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5, 2026, not all political parties are embracing the country’s mixed electoral model, with 14 parties choosing to stay out of the proportional representation (PR) contest while running candidates only in direct constituencies.

The Election Commission has scheduled the upcoming election for March 5, 2026. As in previous elections, voters will cast their votes using two separate ballot papers. Generally, political parties contest both components of the mixed electoral system and nominate candidates accordingly.

However, Election Commission data show that some parties have opted to contest only the direct election and will not participate in the proportional representation system.

According to the Election Commission, 100 political parties have registered to participate in the proportional representation system, and 93 election symbols have been allotted to them. In contrast, a total of 114 political parties have registered to contest the direct election system.

In line with the Commission’s procedures, 102 political parties, along with 12 others, have registered by adopting a single election symbol as stipulated in the regulations governing political parties.

The Commission stated that parties participating only in the direct election system include Rastriya Samata Party Nepal, Bikashsheel Janata Party, Rastriya Sajha Party, Pariwartan Party, United Nepal Democratic Party, Nepal Naulo Janabadi Party, and Rastriya Samunnati Party.

Similarly, Rastrabadi Kendra Nepal, Rashtrabad Yuva Morcha, Lok Dal, Rastrabadi Ekata Party, Bibeksheel Sajha Party, Deshbak Loktantrik Party Nepal, and Sarbodaya Party will also contest only the direct election and not the proportional representation system.

According to Yagya Prasad Bhattarai, Assistant Election Officer for Proportional Representation and Joint Secretary of the Commission, some parties have chosen not to register separately for proportional representation because they plan to participate in the PR system under the election symbol of another party.