KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Indian PM Modi congratulates Rabi Lamichhane and Balen Shah on RSP victory
Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi called Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane and senior leader Balendra (Balen) Shah on Monday to congratulate them on their decisive victory in Nepal’s elections. Modi spoke to Lamichhane and Shah as the RSP was poised to secure a two-thirds majority, including 125 direct seats in the House of Representatives, with results of both the direct and proportional representation votes nearing finalization.
Newly elected National Assembly members take oath of office and secrecy
Newly elected members of the National Assembly of Nepal under the Federal Parliament were administered the oath of office and secrecy on Monday. The ceremony, held at Singha Durbar, saw National Assembly Chair Narayan Prasad Dahal administer the oath in accordance with Article 86, Clause 2 of the Constitution of Nepal. After taking the oath, Chair Dahal presented the newly elected members with the official logo of the parliament and extended best wishes for a successful term in office.
KMC begins box culvert construction over Tukucha stream in Putalisadak–Bagbazar section
The Kathmandu Metropolitan City has begun construction of a box culvert over the Tukucha stream along the road section connecting Putalisadak, Bagbazar, and Ratnapark. The project involves building the culvert on the Tukucha stream along the Putalisadak–Bagbazar–Ratnapark stretch. The metropolis has signed an agreement with Archive Star Nirman Sewa Pvt Ltd to complete the construction by the end of April. According to officials, the culvert will measure 5 meters on the road side and 14 meters in the direction of water flow.
EC says all House election processes to conclude by March 19
The Election Commission Nepal has said that all remaining procedures related to the House of Representatives election held on March 5 will be completed by March 19. According to commission spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, the commission plans to complete all remaining tasks, including issuing certificates to candidates elected under the proportional representation (PR) system, within March 19.
EC delays Dhanusha-1 result as RSP candidate’s disqualification case reaches Supreme Court
Uncertainty has emerged over the election result in Dhanusha-1 after the Election Commission Nepal withheld the official declaration of the winner following the disqualification of a candidate from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). On March 2, the Election Commission annulled the candidacy of RSP nominee Kishori Sah after confirming that his name was listed on the blacklist of the Credit Information Bureau Nepal, which records defaulters of banks and financial institutions.
Balen submits election expense report after defeating Oli in Jhapa-5
Balen Shah, the candidate of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) from Jhapa-5, has submitted his election expense report to the Election Commission Nepal. Shah, who defeated KP Sharma Oli, chair of the CPN-UML, filed the report in connection with the House of Representatives election. According to the expense statement, Shah spent a total of Rs 1,417,289 during his election campaign.
NEPSE hits third positive circuit, trading halted for the day
Trading at the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) was halted for the day after the benchmark index triggered the third positive circuit breaker during Monday’s session. The NEPSE Index surged by 162.93 points to close at 2,875.43, marking a six percent increase. Investor sentiment turned strongly positive as the stock market reopened for the first time following the House of Representatives election. Soon after trading began, the index jumped four percent, triggering the first positive circuit breaker and halting trading for 20 minutes.
Over 10,000 votes invalid in Dang during House election count
More than 10,000 votes have been declared invalid in Dang District during the vote count of the House of Representatives of Nepal elections held on March 5. Out of a total of 251,368 votes cast across the district’s three constituencies, 10,698 votes were invalidated during the counting process. According to information officer Gehendra Kunwar of the Lumbini Province Election Office, Dang, the invalid vote rate in the district stands at 4.25 percent.
Bishnu Paudel calls for reform in UML policy, leadership after election defeat
Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Vice-Chair of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) (UML) and former finance minister, has called on party members to restructure the party’s policies, leadership, organization, and working style in line with public expectations. Paudel made the appeal in a statement issued after he faced defeat in the House of Representatives election from Rupandehi Constituency-2. Urging the party rank and file to undertake a serious review of past weaknesses, he stressed the need for internal reforms that reflect the aspirations of the public.
Good governance, employment top priorities: Shishir Khanal
Shishir Khanal, leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and newly elected member of the House of Representatives from Kathmandu-6, has said that good governance, employment generation, and building an enterprising Nepal remain the party’s top priorities. Speaking at a program organized by Tarakeshwor Municipality Ward No. 9 in Kathmandu-6 on Monday, Khanal said he would work closely with local governments to address the problems faced by residents. Khanal noted that since the RSP does not have representation in local governments in the area, cooperation with local levels would be essential to effectively resolve public concerns.
Shram Sanskriti Party close to national party status as vote count continues
The Shram Sanskriti Party, led by Harka Sampang, is on the verge of being recognized as a national party as vote counting under the proportional representation (PR) system continues across the country. According to the latest vote count, the party has secured 304,366 votes under the PR category. The party contested the election with the ‘Soil’ election symbol. Based on the current tally, Shram Sanskriti is almost certain to secure at least four seats under the proportional representation system, which would allow it to qualify as a national party.
Economist-turned-politician Swarnim Wagle re-elected from Tanahun-1
Economist and policy expert Swarnim Wagle has been re-elected to the House of Representatives of Nepal from Tanahun-1, securing a second term in parliament. Wagle won the seat with 38,040 votes. In the previous by-election from the same constituency, he had secured victory with 34,911 votes. Originally from Gorkha, Wagle grew up in a modest background. Showing an early interest in academics, he later pursued higher education abroad and completed a PhD in economics.
Butwal–Narayangadh road section obstructed after rain makes damaged stretch slippery
The Butwal–Narayangadh road section has been obstructed after rainfall made a damaged stretch of road slippery in the Daunne area. The disruption occurred at Daunne in Binayi Triveni Rural Municipality-2 after the road surface at a subsided section became slippery due to rain, causing difficulties for vehicles since Sunday morning. According to Nawalparasi District Police Office (Bardaghat Susta East), vehicles have been unable to move smoothly since around 10 am.
UML fails to win seats in three provinces despite eight victories
The CPN-UML has failed to secure a single seat in three provinces in the House of Representatives of Nepal elections held on March 5. According to the latest vote count results, the party has not won any seats in constituencies under Gandaki Province, Bagmati Province, and Madhesh Province. So far, CPN-UML has secured victories in eight constituencies. Those elected from the party include Mohammad Ishtiyaq Rayi from Banke District-2, Suhang Nembang from Ilam District-2, Ganesh Singh Thagunna from Darchula District-1, Ain Bahadur Mahara from Bajhang District-1, Rajendra Kumar Rai from Dhankuta District-1, Kshitij Thebe from Taplejung District-1, Laxmi Prasad Pokhrel from Dailekh District-2, and Yagya Bahadur Bogati from Achham District-2.
Gold price drops by Rs 3,700 per tola
The price of gold declined by Rs 3,700 per tola in the domestic market on Monday, according to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association. The federation has fixed the price of gold at Rs 313,200 per tola for the day. On Sunday, gold was priced at Rs 316,900 per tola. Meanwhile, the price of silver has also decreased slightly. Silver fell by Rs 65 per tola compared to Sunday and is now priced at Rs 5,410 per tola. On Sunday, silver was traded at Rs 5,475 per tola.
Four parties cross PR threshold in House of Representatives vote count
Four political parties have crossed the proportional representation (PR) threshold in the vote count for Nepal’s House of Representatives of Nepal, according to the Election Commission Nepal. The parties that have secured the required threshold are the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and the Nepali Communist Party. According to the latest figures released by the commission, RSP has secured 3,950,810 votes under the proportional representation category. Nepali Congress has obtained 1,330,101 votes, while the Communist Party of Nepal has received 579,626 votes.
Kathmandu air quality reaches ‘very unhealthy’ level amid pollution spike
Kathmandu is facing a serious air pollution episode, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) nearing 200, placing it in the “very unhealthy” category. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) dominates the pollution, posing health risks, particularly for children, older adults, and people with underlying conditions. The poor air quality is driven by a combination of urban emissions and weather conditions that trap pollutants in the valley. Calm winds and lack of rainfall prevent smoke, dust, and other pollutants from dispersing, allowing them to accumulate in the air.
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