HoR elections conclude peacefully

The elections to the House of Representatives (HoR)   concluded peacefully across the country today. 

People took part in the voting that was held from 7 am to 5 pm enthusiastically.

Election Commissioner Dr Janaki Kumari Tuladhar informed that those standing in line by 5 pm would be allowed voting. 

Although very few voting stations witnessed obstructions, there is no information on official postponement of the voting. The disputes that surfaced in Dolakha, Sarlahi and Rautahat districts were settled quickly.

Malu voting station of Tamakoshi-4 in Dolakha saw obstruction, but the voting resumed after a while. 

EC will conduct a press conference at 6:15 pm to share detailed information on the elections and voters turnout. 

Altogether, 65 political parties have contested under the first-past-the-post (direct) system with 61 election symbols. Under this system, 3,017 male candidates, 388 female candidates and one candidate from the other gender are in fray, bringing the total to 3,406 candidates.

Similarly, under the proportional representation (PR) electoral system, 1,363 male and 1,772 female candidates who make a total of 3,135 candidates were in the race. 

Voting under the direct electoral system was held across all 165 constituencies, while 110 seats have been allocated under the PR system

The total number of voters listed by EC stood at 10,893,689 for the election. Of them, 9,663,358 were male voters, 1,230,131 female voters and 200 belonged to other genders. 

The EC reported that there were 186,142 temporary voters in this election.

Likewise, the EC had set up 23,112 polling centers in 10,967 polling stations including 143 temporary polling stations for the election.

During the voting, priority was given to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women for them to cast their ballots conveniently.

To ensure election security, a total of 79,727 Nepal Army personnel were mobilized while altogether 75,797 security personnel from the Nepal Police were deployed. 

Similarly, 34,567 personnel from the Armed Police Force were stationed while 1,921 officials from the National Investigation Department and 149,090 temporary election police were assigned during the elections.

 

Iran denies drone toward Azerbaijan

AP reported that Iran’s General Staff of the Armed Forces said Thursday it had not launched a drone toward Azerbaijan, rejecting accusations that Iranian drones crossed the border during the expanding regional conflict.

The denial came after Azerbaijani officials reported that drones struck the country’s Nakhchivan region, damaging infrastructure and injuring civilians, including at Nakhchivan International Airport. Azerbaijan condemned the incident and demanded an explanation from Tehran.

Iranian authorities insisted they do not target neighboring countries, even as tensions escalate during the wider Middle East war.

Missiles and drones hit UAE

The United Arab Emirates said one ballistic missile and six drones struck its territory on Thursday as the regional conflict intensified. The announcement was made by the UAE Ministry of Defense.

According to AP, officials said air defenses repelled six missiles and 131 drones on the same day, and hundreds more since the start of the war. Authorities did not immediately provide details about the locations targeted.

Earlier this week, shrapnel from intercepted cruise missiles killed three residents and injured 94 others in separate incidents, according to the ministry, as falling debris from air defense operations caused casualties.

PM Karki, her Qatari counterpart hold telephone talks

Prime Minister Sushila Karki held a telephone conversation with her Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani on Thursday and expressed concern over the recent developments in the West Asia region.

During the telephonic conversation, PM Karki thanked the Qatari Prime Minister Thani on behalf of the Government of Nepal and the Nepali people for providing security and protection to the 360, 000  Nepali citizens in Qatar, the Prime Minister's Secretariat stated.

The Prime Minister said that Nepal is closely monitoring the developments in West Asia and conveyed Nepal's position that all relevant parties should adopt restraint, avoid escalating the conflict further, and ensure the safety of civilians.

She stated that Nepal emphasizes that all nations should duly respect and adhere to the United Nations Charter, international law, the Geneva Convention and humanitarian laws.

Noting that war or conflict is never an alternative to peace, the Prime Minister argued that talks and diplomatic means will lead to the establishment of durable peace. 

She expressed her hope that the bilateral ties between the two nations would further grow through the upcoming high-level visits, socio-economic cooperation and the people-to-people relations.  

During the telephonic conversation, the Prime Minister expressed her serious concern over the latest developments in Qatar and the assault on Qatar's sovereign territory primarily along the non-military area.

She also expressed her hope that Qatar would be able to resist the existing situation along with the demonstration of its constructive role. 

Qatar's Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Thani highly applauded the cordial, deeper and friendly relations between Nepal and Qatar.

 

HoR polls: 33.41% turnout by 2 pm

Voting for the House of Representatives (HoR) Election- 2026 has been underway since 7 am today. .

As of 2 pm today, the voter turnout was around 33.41 percent, according to the Election Commission. 

It has been reported that voting could not take place at one polling center in Dolakha. However, voting continues at other centers, despite minor disputes at some of them, EC Assistant Spokesperson Kul Bahadur GC told the RSS.

According to him, by 2 pm, the EC system had recorded 63,16,215 votes cast. 

Voting is taking place enthusiastically across the country, it is said. 

 

 

Prez Paudel, Veep Yadav refrain from voting to maintain constitutional neutrality

President Ram Chandra Paudel and Vice-President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav did not participate in the voting taking place today under the House of Representatives (HoR) elections-2026.

It is said they refrained from voting over their constitutional roles as the patrons of the Constitution.

According to the President's press advisor Kiran Pokhrel, the Head-of the State, as the patron of the Constitution and the guardian of the nation, decided not to vote in the election. 

Before being elected as the President, Paudel was casting his ballot from the Satyawati Secondary School polling center at Vyas municipality in his home district Tanahu. 

Likewise, the Vice President also decided not to participate in the voting to maintain Constitutional neutrality, according to his press advisor Dinesh Yadav.

During the previous election, he cast his ballot from the Bara-based Basabariya polling center.

RPP Chair Lingden casts ballot

Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chair and party candidate from Jhapa Constituency-3, Rajendra Lingden, visited the polling center at the Haldibari-1 ward office today to cast his vote.

Voting for the House of Representatives (HoR) elections-2026 has been underway since 7 today.

According to Dilli Ram Prasai, the Assistant Election Officer for Jhapa Constituency-3,  Lingden cast his ballot at 7:30 am.

 

 

UML Chair Oli votes from Balkot-based polling center

CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli today voted in the House of Representatives (HoR) elections-2026. 

He visited the polling center at Mahendra Shanti Secondary School in Balkot, Suryabinayak Municipality-2, Bhaktapur, and cast his vote.

Oli is also contesting the election from Jhapa Constituency-5. 

After voting, he expressed hope that the election would conclude peacefully and impartially across the country.