KATHMANDU: As the country heads toward elections scheduled for March 5, political parties have intensified their campaigns, urging voters to support them.
Among the major parties, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has openly called for a majority mandate, while the Nepali Congress (NC) has set a target of winning more than 100 seats. Other major parties, including CPN-UML and Nepali Communist Party, have not publicly announced specific numerical targets.
Nepal’s political history since the establishment of democracy in 2007 BS (1951) shows that although some parties secured majority governments, internal conflicts and leadership struggles often led to their downfall. In several cases, parties that won a clear majority later split due to factional disputes, ultimately losing power.
Nepali Congress majority in 2015 BS (1959)
Following the 2007 BS (2051) democratic movement, parliamentary elections were held in 2015 BS (1959). The Nepali Congress won a decisive victory, securing 74 out of 109 seats, a clear two-thirds majority.
Other parties trailed far behind. The Gorkha Parishad won 19 seats, the United Democratic Party led by K.I. Singh secured five seats, the Nepal Communist Party won four seats, and independents and smaller parties claimed seven seats.
This election marked the first time Nepal used universal adult franchise to elect a parliament. Despite the Nepali Congress’ strong mandate, executive power remained largely with the monarchy. King Mahendra initially refused to allow the formation of a government, and the elected government was formed only on May 27, 1959.
Under Prime Minister Bishweshwar Prasad (B.P.) Koirala, the government introduced major reforms such as the abolition of the ‘birta land system’, forest nationalization, and the end of certain feudal privileges. These measures created dissatisfaction among conservative and royalist groups.
Tensions also emerged within the Nepali Congress itself. Senior leaders including Matrika Prasad Koirala had already split from the party, while figures such as Tulsi Giri and Bishwabandhu Thapa were seen as closer to the palace.
Amid growing political tension and citing instability, King Mahendra dismissed the government on December 15, 1960 (2017 BS), dissolved parliament, and assumed direct rule. Prime Minister B.P. Koirala and other senior leaders were arrested. The royal takeover ended Nepal’s first experiment with parliamentary democracy.
Majority government collapses again in 1991
After the restoration of multi-party democracy in 2046 BS (1990), a new constitution was promulgated in 2047 BS. Parliamentary elections were held in 2048 BS (1991) for a 205-member House of Representatives.
The Nepali Congress secured 110 seats, forming a clear majority government. CPN-UML won 69 seats, while other parties and independents shared the remaining seats.
However, internal rivalry soon weakened the government. Although party president Krishna Prasad Bhattarai had initially led the democratic movement, he lost his parliamentary seat, and Girija Prasad Koirala became Prime Minister.
Factional divisions deepened between Girija Prasad Koirala, Ganeshman Singh, and Krishna Prasad Bhattarai. The party split into rival camps, often referred to as the “group of 36” and the “group of 74” based on parliamentary alignment.
In 2050 BS, a by-election was held in Kathmandu–1 following the death of UML leader Madan Bhandari in the Dasdhunga accident. Krishna Prasad Bhattarai contested the seat again but was defeated for the second time.
The defeat of Bhattarai in a by-election further intensified internal disputes. Party infighting gradually destabilized the government, demonstrating once again how internal strife undermined a majority mandate.
On July 10, 1999, during a vote of thanks on the government’s policy and program in Parliament, the proposal was rejected after lawmakers from the dissident 36-member faction of the Nepali Congress remained absent, depriving the majority government of the necessary support.
Following the setback, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala resigned, dissolved Parliament, and recommended to King Birendra that fresh elections be held. Consequently, mid-term elections took place later in 2051 BS.
Many analysts argue that the clear majority secured by the Nepali Congress in the 2048 BS election was ultimately undermined by intense factionalism and internal rivalries within the party itself.
Nepali Congress fails to sustain majority in 2056 BS
The 2051 BS mid-term elections failed to produce a clear majority, resulting in unstable coalition governments. However, in the parliamentary elections of 2056 BS (1999), the Nepali Congress once again secured a majority, for the third time in Nepal’s democratic history.
In elections held in two phases on May 3, 1999 and May 14, 1999, the Nepali Congress won 111 out of 205 seats, while CPN-UML secured 71 seats. The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) was reduced to 11 seats. Other parties, including the Rastriya Sadbhavana Party and Rastriya Janamorcha, won five seats each, while the Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party and NCP (United) secured one seat each.
Despite the clear mandate, the Nepali Congress again failed to provide stable governance due to internal discord and weak coordination. The party had projected Krishna Prasad Bhattarai as its prime ministerial candidate, arguing that he had previously been sidelined due to internal conspiracy. After the election, Bhattarai became Prime Minister.
However, tensions soon surfaced between Bhattarai and Girija Prasad Koirala. Just months into office, 69 Congress lawmakers submitted signatures against Bhattarai, forcing him to resign and step away from parliamentary politics.
Subsequently, Girija Prasad Koirala and Sher Bahadur Deuba took turns leading the government. Meanwhile, the 2001 royal palace massacre and the intensifying Maoist insurgency significantly altered Nepal’s political balance. In October 2002 BS, Prime Minister Deuba dissolved Parliament.
Although voters had granted the Nepali Congress a majority, extreme factionalism repeatedly undermined stable governance. The party’s inability to maintain unity and manage the national political crisis ultimately created conditions that allowed King Gyanendra to assume direct power.
Communist alliance also undone by internal conflict
After the decade-long Maoist insurgency and the 2062/63 People’s Movement, elections for the Constituent Assembly were held in 2064 BS and again in 2070 BS under the Interim Constitution. In both cases, no party secured a majority, leading to unstable governments despite the Assembly continuing its constitutional work.
Following the promulgation of the Constitution in 2072 BS, the 2074 BS parliamentary elections delivered a near two-thirds majority to a left alliance formed by CPN-UML and Maoist Centre. This marked the first time in Nepal’s parliamentary history that a communist alliance achieved such a dominant mandate.
Of the 165 directly elected seats, UML won 80 and the Maoist Centre secured 36. The Nepali Congress was reduced to 23 seats. The Rastriya Janata Party won 11 seats, the Federal Socialist Forum 10, and other parties five seats.
Under proportional representation, UML secured 41 seats, the Nepali Congress 40, and the Maoists 17, while the RJP and Federal Socialist Forum won six seats each.
There was widespread hope that the new constitution, endorsed after years of political instability and armed conflict, would usher in a period of lasting stability and prosperity. The left alliance later unified to form the Nepal Communist Party.
However, internal power struggles soon intensified within the unified party. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli dissolved Parliament twice amid escalating factional disputes. The internal conflict ultimately led to the split of the NCP.
The Supreme Court later overturned Oli’s dissolution decisions and reinstated Parliament. Subsequently, Sher Bahadur Deuba, president of the Nepali Congress and leader of the largest party in Parliament at the time, was appointed Prime Minister.
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