The election for the 275-member House of Representatives (HoR) was conducted peacefully across the country, despite a few minor incidents of violence reported in some constituencies. Voters from across generations—from GenZ youth to citizens over 100 years old—turned out to cast their ballots.
The election marks an important effort to revive Nepal’s constitutional framework after it was destabilized by a protest-driven political crisis. As voting concludes, public attention is now shifting toward the reform measures the new government will undertake. People remain concerned about how the incoming leadership will address political challenges, overcome structural constraints, and stabilize the country’s fragile economic situation.
Voters expect the new government to focus on improving the overall quality of life by ensuring good governance and maintaining strong control over corruption. People want the government to create more jobs and expand economic opportunities so that citizens can achieve financial stability and growth.
Farmers expect the timely availability of chemical fertilizers to support agricultural productivity, while students and families hope for quality and affordable education. At the same time, citizens want accessible and affordable healthcare services, a clean and reliable supply of tap water, and dependable public transportation systems.
Proper monitoring and regulation of markets to control prices is also a major expectation, as it would help protect consumers from inflation and unfair practices. Overall, voters hope the new government will work responsibly to build a fair, transparent, and prosperous society for everyone.
The new government—whether led by old or new political actors—will be obliged to take measures to bring about meaningful change. However, this election is unlikely to produce a single-party majority government due to the current electoral system, which combines First-Past-the-Post and Proportional Representation. Nepal first implemented this system in the 2008 Constituent Assembly elections, and since then no party has secured a single-party majority to form the government. National elections were subsequently held in 2013, 2017, and 2022, but none produced a single-party government. Thursday’s election is also expected to result in a coalition government involving more than two political parties. To initiate the reform process, the first precondition is the stability of both parliament and government.
Untimely dissolution of parliament and frequent changes in government have hindered the prospects for meaningful change. Only a stable government can create a conducive environment for constitutional amendments. Since a two-thirds majority is required to amend the constitution, such changes cannot take place without broad political consensus. While consensus may be possible among major political parties on non-political issues, it is far more difficult to reach agreement on core political matters.
Moreover, amending the constitution can open a Pandora’s box. Once the process begins, multiple groups may push their own agendas. For instance, royalist groups demand the restoration of the Hindu state and monarchy, while other groups have their own competing demands. In addition, improving governance will require amendments to dozens of existing laws, which is also a complex and time-consuming task.
Good governance and institutional reforms are essential to boost private investment, foster inclusive and sustainable growth, create jobs, and increase productivity. There is also a need to attract more foreign direct investment to bridge the funding gap for infrastructure development and other sectors. However, foreign companies often complain about bureaucratic red tape and regulatory hurdles when investing in Nepal. At the same time, the economic policies of the new government will be closely watched by the international community.
The new government faces the formidable task of undertaking comprehensive reforms across political, economic, and state institutions. Achieving these reforms will require a stable and conducive political environment within Nepal’s fragmented political landscape.
