A Weekly Election Governance Monitor
1. Key Election Developments
Party and Candidate Activities-
• On February 1, 2026, the Young Communist League Nepal (YCL) decided to deploy task forces across 165 constituencies for voter and candidate security.
• Resham Chaudhary’s writ petition challenging his candidacy cancellation could not be scheduled for hearing within the nomination deadline, leaving the matter unresolved.
• Several complaints were registered regarding fake social media content, including a forged commitment letter attributed to Barshaman Pun and misinformation targeting Swarnim Wagle.
• On February 9, Rabi Lamichhane’s public program in Nawalparasi was halted due to premature campaigning, preventing him from proceeding with the event.
Security and Operational Preparedness-
• On February 4, the Nepal Army began nationwide deployment with 80,000 soldiers under an integrated plan alongside Nepal Police and Armed Police Force. Borders with India will close 72 hours before polling.
• Vehicle permits were regulated on February 5, limiting candidates to two light vehicles.
• A prohibitory order was imposed around Tribhuvan International Airport for one month from February 4.
• On February 6, the Home Ministry directed Cyber Cell, drone bans during polls, and action against anti-election activities.
Candidate and List Finalizations-
On February 3, the Election Commission (EC) published the final closed list of 3,135 proportional representation (PR) candidates from 63 parties. Earlier, on February 2, 76 candidates were removed from PR lists due to issues like blacklisting by the Credit Information Bureau (21 cases), age ineligibility (4 cases), unpaid fines (10cases), and quota violations. Parties were instructed to submit manifestos by February 13 (Falgun 3).
Financial and Transparency Initiatives-
• On February 3, the Election Commission (EC) directed dedicated bank accounts for campaign funds, requiring all transactions over NPR 25,000 to be routed through banks and prohibiting foreign or government sources. Voluntary donations from individuals are permitted, but fixed-amount demands are not allowed.
• The EC signed an MoU with TikTok to address and combat misinformation on the platform.
• The EC sought clarifications from 51 individuals regarding hate speech, but by February 11, only 30 had responded.
Digital Regulation and Ballot Secrecy Enforcement-
• The EC blocked six unregistered websites for conducting unauthorized polls and surveys.
• Warnings were issued in Jhapa and Morang against asking voters’ intentions on social media, citing ballot secrecy violations.
2. Incidents of Election-Related Violence
Property Damage and Office Vandalism-
On February 5, the contact office of RSP candidate Balendra Shah (Balen) in Kamal Rural Municipality-2, Jhapa, was vandalized, with windowpanes smashed.
Protests and Disruptions-
• On February 11, victims of the Supreme Savings and Credit Cooperative protested during RSP candidate Shulabh Kharel’s door-to-door campaign in Rupandehi-2, chanting slogans and demanding restitution linked to RSP Chair Rabi Lamichhane’s alleged fraud case.
• In Arjundhara–Birtamod, Jhapa, residents declared an “election activity prohibited zone” on February 2, barring leaders over land disputes.
Arrests and Detentions for Violations-
• Durga Prasai was arrested on February 6 for code violations and obstructing election materials, released on February 8.
• A police constable was detained on February 6 in Parsa for promoting RSP on social media, violating police rules.
Road Accident and Public Backlash-
A four year old girl was killed after being struck by a vehicle bearing the campaign sticker of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) candidate Sheikh Sagir in RautahatDistrict on February 5, 2026. Police confirmed that the candidate was not in the vehicle at the time. The incident sparked online criticism and public outrage, and the driver was taken into police custody. There is no confirmation that the accident was intentional.
This pre-election period reflects a regulated but politically tense environment. While the risk of large-scale political violence appears low, digital misinformation remains moderate-to-high and is showing signs of increase. Institutional capacity appears strong and stable, with oversight mechanisms functioning in an assertive manner. However, persistent code-of-conduct violations, digital misinformation, and localized symbolic incidents indicate underlying political polarization.