Kathmandu: Nepal’s Constitution has adopted a mixed electoral system for the House of Representatives. Of the total 275 members, 165 will be elected through the direct (first-past-the-post) system, while 110 will be chosen through the proportional representation system.

The Election Commission has scheduled the House of Representatives election for Falgun 21. Voters will cast their votes using two separate ballot papers—one for the direct election and another for proportional representation. Political parties may participate in either or both systems, as permitted by law.

Party Registration Status
According to the Election Commission, 100 political parties have registered to participate in the proportional representation system, for which 93 election symbols have been allocated. Meanwhile, 114 political parties have registered to contest the direct election system.

Out of these, 102 political parties have completed all procedures prescribed by the Commission, while 12 parties have registered by adopting a single election symbol in accordance with prevailing regulations.

Parties Skipping Proportional Representation
The Commission has stated that 14 political parties will contest only the direct election system and will not participate in the proportional representation system. These parties are:

Rastriya Samata Party Nepal
-Bikashsheel Janata Party
-Rastriya Sajha Party
-Parivartan Party
-United Nepal Democratic Party
-Nepal Naulo Janabadi Party
-Rastriya Samunnati Party
-Nationalist Center Nepal
-Rashtriya Yuva Morcha
-Lok Dal
-Nationalist Ekta Party
-Bibeksheel Sajha Party
-Deshbak Loktantrik Party, Nepal
-Sarvodaya Party

Commission’s Clarification
Assistant Returning Officer for Proportional Representation and Joint Secretary of the Commission, Yagya Prasad Bhattarai, clarified that some parties have not registered separately for the proportional system because they intend to participate under the election symbol of another party.
This arrangement, he said, is in line with existing electoral provisions.