Nepal awaits the first results of a pivotal parliamentary election on Friday, as vote counting began after a closely watched poll expected to shape the country’s political direction following last year’s deadly protests.

PM KP Oli emphasised that Nepal's 2026 General Elections must prioritise restoring stability and democratic order. As Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist, he voiced strong confidence in his party's path to a robust mandate.

Nepal is holding parliamentary elections Thursday, a year after a youth-led uprising forced out the government chosen in the last elections.

Balendra Shah – the former Kathmandu mayor widely known as Balen – has surged ahead of 74-year-old communist leader K.P. Sharma Oli in a race for a seat in Nepal’s House of Representatives in the eastern district of Jhapa, election commission data showed on Saturday.

Early trends show the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) leading in 47 constituencies across Nepal. Party chairman Rabi Lamichhane is ahead in Chitwan-2, while senior leader Balen Shah is leading in Jhapa-5.

RSP leads in 105 of 165 constituencies. Balen Shah is a PM hopeful and is leading in his seat. Meanwhile, Nepali Congress concedes defeat in general election, party's vice-president said.

By Gopal Sharma KATHMANDU, March 5 (Reuters) - Polls in Nepal's general election closed on Thursday evening as the Himalayan nation gets ready to elect a new parliament nearly six months after the deaths of 77 people in a crackdown on youth-led protests forced its then prime minister to quit.

Young voters and first time electors back new parties and leaders as country votes after deadly protests forced early polls and dissolved parliament