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Nepal's Political Record • Documented for the Public

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Verification Archive

Fact Checks

A disciplined ledger of claims, verdicts, and evidence — designed to protect voter trust.

Archive Note

Each dossier captures the claim, the strongest evidence, and the final verdict. Use filters to isolate confirmed truths, false narratives, and misleading claims.

Index:
Total 45
True 1
False 31
Misleading 12
Unverified 1
Index:Total 45
True 1
False 31
Misleading 12
Unverified 1
Featured Dossier

The Election Commission has halved the number of polling centres in rural districts to save costs, making it much harder for villagers to vote.

This claim is misleading. Election Commission officials have repeatedly said that they aim to maintain the practice of roughly one polling centre for every 1,000 voters, similar to previous general elections. Available reporting does not show a blanket decision to halve polling centres in rural districts. It is possible that some centres have been consolidated or relocated due to population shifts, security considerations or school availability, which can increase travel distances for some communities. However, that is different from a nationwide 50 percent cut driven purely by cost-saving. Without detailed, constituency-level data, broad statements about polling centres being ‘halved everywhere’ oversimplify a more complex picture.

Local political speeches and viral video clips
Feb 15, 2026
False

The new youth alliance between Rastriya Swatantra Party and Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah has been banned by the Election Commission.

Claim Source/Unattributed commentary on partisan talk shows and social media

There is no evidence to support this claim. Public reporting from Nepali and international outlets describes an agreement in which Rastriya Swatantra Party leader Rabi Lamichhane and Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah have formed a political partnership ahead of the March 5 election, with Shah projected as a prime ministerial candidate if the alliance secures a majority. None of these reports mention any formal ban by the Election Commission. Under existing law, parties may enter into alliances as long as they respect registration, finance and code-of-conduct rules. The Commission could act if specific provisions were violated, but no such action has been announced. Until an official notice is issued, statements about a ban should be treated as false.

Read Analysis
Feb 15, 2026
False

Small political parties are banned from contesting the proportional representation ballot; only big national parties can appear on PR lists.

Claim Source/Partisan social media pages criticising the electoral system

This claim is false. Recent reporting on candidate registration for the March 5 election notes that 68 political parties are participating overall, with many fielding candidates in both first-past-the-post races and proportional representation lists. Nepal’s law applies the same registration requirements to all parties and sets a national vote threshold that must be crossed to gain PR seats, but it does not reserve the PR ballot for only a few ‘big’ parties. Smaller and regional parties remain free to submit closed lists as long as they fulfil the legal criteria. What distinguishes outcomes is voter support and the threshold, not a formal ban.

Read Analysis
Feb 15, 2026
False

Voters will cast only one combined ballot that counts for both the federal and provincial elections.

Claim Source/Word-of-mouth in local communities and some social media graphics

This claim is false. Nepal’s electoral system for the March 5 polls requires each voter to cast four separate ballots: one for a first-past-the-post candidate to the House of Representatives, one for a proportional representation party list for the House, one for a provincial FPTP candidate and one for a provincial PR list. Official explainers and legal provisions make it clear that federal and provincial elections are held concurrently but on distinct ballot papers. Any graphic or statement suggesting a single combined ballot misrepresents both the legal framework and the arrangements described by the Election Commission.

Read Analysis
Feb 15, 2026
Misleading

The March 5 election has been postponed because winter weather makes it impossible to vote in mountain districts.

Claim Source/Various anonymous social media posts

This claim is misleading. It is true that heavy snowfall and harsh winter conditions in some high-altitude districts pose logistical challenges for transporting materials and staff. However, Election Commission officials have publicly stated in recent briefings that preparations are on track and that they intend to hold voting on 5 March as scheduled. They have outlined contingency plans such as early dispatch of materials and flexible deployment, rather than discussing postponement. No official notice has been issued to change the election date at the national level. Localised adjustments to polling arrangements may occur if weather severely disrupts access, but that is not the same as postponing the entire election.

Read Analysis
Feb 14, 2026
Misleading

The three percent national vote threshold for proportional representation has been abolished for the 2026 election, so any party can win PR seats with a small vote share.

Claim Source/Informal comments by local party workers and unverified online infographics.

Under the current legal framework, the proportional representation tier for the House of Representatives still applies a national threshold. Parties must obtain at least three percent of the valid proportional vote and win at least one first-past-the-post seat to qualify as a national party entitled to PR seats. What has caused confusion is that parties and independents with small vote shares can still win seats under the first-past-the-post system if they come first in a constituency. Some commentaries also refer loosely to the possibility of revisiting thresholds in future reforms, which some readers mistakenly interpret as changes that already apply to the 2026 election. In this election, no formal amendment has removed or lowered the three percent threshold in force for the proportional tier. It remains a binding rule for the allocation of PR seats, so statements suggesting that any party, regardless of vote share, can enter parliament via PR alone are misleading.

Read Analysis
Feb 14, 2026
False

The Election Commission has reduced the number of polling centres compared to the 2022 elections, making it harder for people to vote.

Claim Source/Comments by local activists and social media posts reacting to crowding concerns.

The final logistical data published by the Election Commission show that the number of polling stations and polling centres has increased, not decreased, compared to 2022. For the March 5, 2026 election, the Commission has designated 10,967 polling stations and 23,112 polling centres nationwide, which is an increase of 75 stations and 885 centres relative to the last general election. These additional centres are intended to ease crowding, especially in rapidly urbanising areas and in local units where the voter roll has grown significantly. While some specific settlements may still feel under-served due to geography or population shifts, the overall national trend is toward more, not fewer, polling locations. Claims that the Commission has cut the number of centres across the board therefore contradict the official figures. That does not mean concerns about accessibility and long queues are unfounded, but they relate to local implementation and resource allocation rather than a nationwide reduction in polling infrastructure.

Read Analysis
Feb 14, 2026
False

The House of Representatives election has been postponed from 5 March 2026 to 21 March 2026.

Claim Source/Social media posts citing old or speculative headlines about a March 21 election date.

The claim that the election date has been shifted from 5 March to 21 March 2026 is not supported by current official documents. The Election Commission’s latest published schedule, as well as recent explainer articles, clearly state that voting for the House of Representatives will take place on 5 March 2026. Some early international reporting and commentary mentioned different possible dates, including 21 March, when political negotiations were still fluid after the dissolution of the House in September 2025. However, those references were either provisional or subsequently superseded by the formal announcement and Gazette notification that set 5 March as election day. Until now, there has been no new decision by the President, the government or the Election Commission reversing or amending that notification. In the absence of any updated legal instrument, posts suggesting that the election has been postponed to 21 March are false and risk confusing voters.

Read Analysis
Feb 14, 2026
False

Nepali citizens living abroad will be able to vote online or at embassies in the March 5, 2026 election.

Claim Source/Videos and posts on social media referencing pilot proposals for overseas voting.

In the past year, the government and the Election Commission explored options for external voting, including in-person polling at embassies, postal ballots and potential online systems. Policy briefs and news reports described pilot plans in 10 to 15 countries, raising public expectations that overseas citizens might participate in the 2026 vote. However, in a formal briefing in early January 2026, the Election Commission announced that neither diaspora voting nor out-of-constituency voting would be implemented for the March 5 election. Officials cited the lack of timely legal amendments, incomplete diplomatic arrangements with host countries and unresolved technical and security questions, especially around online voting. As a result, all valid votes in this election will be cast in person at polling centres inside Nepal’s territory, using paper ballots. Posts claiming that Nepalis abroad can vote online or at embassies in March 2026 therefore misrepresent earlier exploratory discussions and are false in the context of the current legal and operational framework.

Read Analysis
Feb 13, 2026
False

Only citizens with biometric voter ID cards will be allowed to vote in the 2026 House of Representatives election.

Claim Source/Word-of-mouth among migrant workers and local communities

Nepal’s legal framework for federal elections is based on the electoral roll, not on the possession of a specific physical card. Voters who are duly registered on the final voter list for their polling location can cast a ballot, typically by verifying their identity with citizenship or other accepted documents as per ECN procedure. While the Election Commission has piloted and expanded biometric registration and may use biometric data to strengthen the voter roll, there is no credible evidence that it has made biometric voter ID cards the sole condition for voting in 2026. Official communication continues to emphasise being on the voter list as the core requirement.

Read Analysis
Feb 13, 2026
Misleading

The Election Commission has completely banned political content on social media during the 2026 HoR campaign.

Claim Source/Various social media posts and commentary

The 2082 Election Code of Conduct does not impose a blanket ban on political content on social media. Instead, it restricts specific behaviours: spreading false or hateful information, inciting violence, misusing children in campaigns, abusing government resources, and publishing content that unduly affects communal harmony or the integrity of the election. Parties and candidates are still allowed to communicate policies, respond to voters and run digital campaigns, provided they follow these rules and clearly identify sponsored content where required. Describing the situation as a total ban on political content exaggerates the restrictions and may discourage legitimate civic debate. The reality is a regulated, not prohibited, digital campaign environment.

Read Analysis
Feb 13, 2026
False

Balen Shah and Rabi Lamichhane have already registered a new joint party that will contest the 2026 election under a fresh symbol.

Claim Source/Informal conversations and partisan social media pages

Available reporting indicates a political alliance or partnership between Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chair Rabi Lamichhane, including understandings about campaign coordination and prime ministerial projection. However, credible sources consistently describe this as an alliance built around the existing RSP structure, not as a newly registered joint party with a separate symbol. The Election Commission’s public lists and media coverage have not recorded the registration of a new national party jointly owned by Shah and Lamichhane. Until such a party is formally registered and notified, claims that it already exists and will use a new symbol are false.

Read Analysis
Feb 13, 2026
Verified True

Under the 2082 election code of conduct, the Election Commission can fine violators up to Rs 100,000 and even bar them from running for office for up to six years.

Claim Source/News reports and explainer articles

Recent news coverage of the Election Code of Conduct 2082 cites Election Commission officials confirming that the Commission retains strong sanctioning powers. In serious cases of violation, the EC can impose financial penalties and, where warranted, cancel a candidacy or bar an individual from standing for election for a defined period, which can extend up to six years. These powers are consistent with the broader election law framework that allows the EC to act against violations to protect the integrity of the process. However, the Commission typically uses a graduated approach, starting with warnings and lesser sanctions before resorting to disqualification or longer-term bans in only the most serious or repeated cases.

Read Analysis
Feb 13, 2026
Unverified

For the 2026 HoR election, all Nepali migrant workers abroad will be able to vote through a new universal postal or online system.

Claim Source/Rumours in diaspora social media groups

There is longstanding debate in Nepal about extending voting rights to citizens living abroad, and some political actors have promised to work toward diaspora voting. However, as of mid-February 2026, there is no widely reported official decision by the Election Commission that introduces a universal postal, online or app-based voting system for all migrant workers for the upcoming HoR polls. Existing practice has limited special voting to narrowly defined categories like diplomats and security personnel on duty. Any major expansion would likely require legislative changes, extensive logistical planning and clear public notification. Until the EC and relevant authorities publish detailed rules, claims that such a system definitely exists for March 5 should be treated as unverified.

Read Analysis
Feb 12, 2026
False

This election will be held entirely under a first-past-the-post system, with proportional representation abolished.

Claim Source/Comments in political rallies and opinion columns referring to proposed reforms

Some political leaders have advocated changing Nepal’s electoral design to make the lower house fully first-past-the-post and the upper house fully proportional. However, these ideas remain at the level of proposals and debate. No constitutional amendment has been enacted to remove proportional representation from the House of Representatives before the March 5, 2026 polls. Current laws and voter education materials clearly explain that the 275-member House will continue to be elected through a mixed system: 165 seats via FPTP and 110 via party-list proportional representation, with a 3 percent threshold in the PR tier. Therefore, claims that proportional representation has been ‘abolished’ for this election are incorrect.

Read Analysis
Feb 12, 2026
False

The March 5, 2026 election is likely to be postponed because of winter weather in the mountains.

Claim Source/Speculation on talk shows and social media

Security and election officials have repeatedly stated that the March 5 House of Representatives election will be held on schedule. The Election Commission has said it is ‘ready to conduct the election in all locations’ and that there is ‘no alternative’ to the announced date, despite concerns about snow and cold conditions in some high-altitude districts. Logistical plans, including the use of helicopters and special vehicles, have been put in place precisely to manage winter challenges in remote areas. While extremely severe weather could disrupt specific polling centres on election day, there is currently no official indication that the nationwide polling date will be postponed.

Read Analysis
Feb 12, 2026
Misleading

Nepalis living abroad will be able to vote directly in the March 5, 2026 House of Representatives election.

Claim Source/Rumours in community groups and some opinion pieces

Over the past few years, the Election Commission and constitutional experts have indeed discussed legal reforms to grant voting rights to Nepalis living abroad, at least under the proportional representation system. Draft bills and policy papers propose including eligible citizens abroad on voter rolls and enabling them to cast absentee or overseas ballots. However, these proposals have not yet resulted in fully implemented laws and operational mechanisms for federal elections. For the March 5, 2026 House of Representatives election, there is no official notification, procedural guideline or logistical arrangement in place that would allow ordinary Nepali citizens residing overseas to vote from abroad. As things stand, only those who return to their registered constituency in Nepal and are on the electoral roll can cast their votes. Therefore, saying that ‘overseas Nepalis can vote’ without this important caveat is misleading.

Read Analysis
Feb 12, 2026
False

The Election Code of Conduct does not apply to social media or AI-generated campaign content.

Claim Source/Some party activists and online influencers

Recent directions from the Election Commission explicitly state that the Election Code of Conduct 2082 covers online spaces, including social media platforms and digital content. The code prohibits spreading false, misleading or divisive information via social networks and specifically mentions the use of artificial intelligence to manipulate or unduly influence voters as a violation. Official notices and media reports highlight bans on using children or government institutions in online propaganda, as well as restrictions on using deepfakes or deceptive audio-visual content that impersonates candidates or leaders. Therefore, social media posts, videos, AI-generated images and other digital materials released during the election period are subject to the same standards and potential penalties as physical rallies and printed materials.

Read Analysis
Feb 12, 2026
False

The Nepali Army will directly manage polling booths and control ballot boxes in the March 5 election.

Claim Source/Various social media posts and local conversations

The integrated election security plan clearly assigns different roles to Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, temporary election police and the Nepali Army. According to public statements by election and security officials, Nepal Police and election police form the first security ring and are responsible for managing polling centres, including queues, order inside and around booths, and immediate incident response. The Nepali Army is deployed in the third or outer security ring, with a mandate to protect strategic locations, conduct patrols and support logistics. Officials have repeatedly said that army personnel will not enter polling booths or handle ballot boxes under normal conditions. Only in exceptional circumstances – such as severe security breakdowns – and upon formal request from civil authorities and the Election Commission could the army be drawn closer to polling operations. There is no provision or decision for the army to run booths or control ballot boxes by default.

Read Analysis
Feb 10, 2026
False

Only citizens under the age of 30, especially those linked to the Gen-Z protests, will be allowed to vote in the 2026 election.

Claim Source/Misleading commentary in online discussions

Nepal’s constitution guarantees universal adult suffrage, and election laws specify that all citizens who are 18 years or older and properly registered on the voters roll are eligible to vote. There is no provision that restricts voting rights to people under 30 or to participants in any protest movement. Recent Election Commission documents and voter roll data show around 18.9 million registered voters of all age groups. While the Gen-Z movement has influenced political debate and youth mobilisation, it has not changed the age threshold or criteria for voting. Claims that older citizens cannot vote are therefore false and risk discouraging lawful voters.

Read Analysis
Security personnel are allowed to campaign in uniform for their preferred candidates during leave under the 2026 Election Code of Conduct.
Feb 10, 2026
False

Security personnel are allowed to campaign in uniform for their preferred candidates during leave under the 2026 Election Code of Conduct.

Claim Source/Informal conversations and selective quotes on talk shows

The Election Code of Conduct and related security directives consistently bar serving security personnel from taking part in partisan campaigning, whether they are on active duty or on leave. This includes restrictions on participating in rallies, canvassing or appearing in campaign material in uniform. Recent clarification notices issued by the Election Commission, including the case involving alleged use of police personnel in support of a candidate, underline that the use of security staff in campaigns is considered a violation, not a protected right. While retired personnel acting in a personal capacity may engage in politics under certain conditions, serving members in uniform are required to maintain political neutrality. Claims that the 2026 code has newly allowed uniformed campaigning by serving staff are therefore false.

Read Analysis
Under new rules for the 2026 elections, only the three largest parties will be allowed to contest the proportional representation ballot.
Feb 10, 2026
Misleading

Under new rules for the 2026 elections, only the three largest parties will be allowed to contest the proportional representation ballot.

Claim Source/Misleading explainer videos and party-level rumours

Nepal’s federal election system, as outlined in the Constitution and subsequent laws, uses a mixed model with 165 first-past-the-post seats and 110 proportional representation seats. The law retains a national vote threshold (such as 3 percent of valid votes) that a party or alliance must cross to be allocated PR seats, but it does not limit ballot access to only three parties. Recent ordinances passed by the National Assembly adjust technical aspects of voter list management and House election procedures, but there is no evidence that they have introduced a rule restricting the PR ballot to just the three largest parties by size. The claim mixes up the idea of a representation threshold (needed for seat allocation) with an imagined cap on how many parties may appear on the ballot. Many registered parties can still contest the PR vote; smaller ones that fail to cross the threshold simply do not receive seats, even though they appear on the ballot and can campaign.

Read Analysis
The Rastriya Swatantra Party–Balendra Shah alliance has been banned by the Election Commission and cannot contest the 2026 elections.
Feb 10, 2026
False

The Rastriya Swatantra Party–Balendra Shah alliance has been banned by the Election Commission and cannot contest the 2026 elections.

Claim Source/Commentators and viral posts critical of the alliance

Media coverage clearly shows that the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah have formed a political partnership ahead of the 2026 elections, with Shah projected as a prime ministerial candidate if the alliance wins a majority. There is no credible reporting that the Election Commission has banned this alliance from contesting. What the Commission has done is issue clarification notices to Balendra Shah and others regarding alleged violations of the Election Code of Conduct, including possible misuse of security personnel. Such notices are part of routine enforcement and, by themselves, do not amount to a ban or disqualification. If the EC were to prohibit a party or alliance from competing, it would have to do so through a formal, public decision referencing relevant election laws. No such decision has been announced. Therefore, claims that the alliance is already banned are false, although its activities remain under EC scrutiny like those of other actors.

Read Analysis
The Election Commission has postponed the March 5, 2026 House of Representatives election due to security concerns.
Feb 10, 2026
False

The Election Commission has postponed the March 5, 2026 House of Representatives election due to security concerns.

Claim Source/Anonymous social media posts and forwarded messages

Available reporting from Nepal’s mainstream media and official statements consistently describe the House of Representatives election as still scheduled for March 5, 2026. The Election Commission is actively dispatching ballot boxes, printing ballot papers and coordinating security deployments for that date, which would not be happening if the polls had been postponed. There has been no credible announcement from the President’s Office, the Council of Ministers or the Election Commission about changing the polling date. In Nepal’s constitutional framework, such a change would require a clear, public decision and legal notification, none of which have occurred so far. The rumour appears to misinterpret discussions about security preparations and protests as indications of postponement. At present, all authoritative signals point to the election going ahead on March 5, 2026 as scheduled.

Read Analysis
The election code of conduct applies only to politicians and does not cover media or ordinary citizens.
Feb 9, 2026
False

The election code of conduct applies only to politicians and does not cover media or ordinary citizens.

Claim Source/Some talk show guests and online commentators

Official documents and public briefings from the Election Commission make clear that the Election Code of Conduct 2082 has a broad scope. It applies not only to federal and provincial governments, ministers, political parties and candidates, but also to media organisations, journalists, NGOs, educational institutions and individual voters. The code explicitly lists media houses and journalists among those required to comply, with obligations to avoid biased, defamatory or inflammatory coverage that could unfairly influence voters. It also states that voters themselves must not engage in activities such as spreading false information, intimidating others at polling stations or misusing social media to violate the code. Therefore, claims that the code of conduct is limited to politicians are incorrect. While enforcement capacity and consistency can be debated, the legal framework clearly covers media and ordinary citizens as well.

Read Analysis
There are reserved first-past-the-post constituencies exclusively for Dalit candidates in the 2026 House of Representatives election.
Feb 9, 2026
False

There are reserved first-past-the-post constituencies exclusively for Dalit candidates in the 2026 House of Representatives election.

Claim Source/Misleading explanations in local discussions and social media

Nepal’s federal electoral system for the House of Representatives combines first-past-the-post constituencies with proportional representation lists. While the constitution requires parties to ensure inclusive representation of Dalits and other groups in their overall delegation, it does not create reserved FPTP constituencies that only Dalit candidates can contest. Dalit representation is mainly guaranteed through the proportional representation system, where parties must nominate candidates from historically marginalised communities in line with their population share. Analyses of candidate lists for 2026 show that Dalit aspirants have received only a small number of FPTP tickets from major parties, reinforcing concerns about under-representation, but those constituencies are not legally designated as Dalit-only seats. The claim that specific FPTP constituencies are reserved exclusively for Dalits misrepresents how inclusion provisions operate. It may stem from confusion with the proportional quota system or with local-level practices, but it does not accurately describe the legal framework for the 2026 federal election.

Read Analysis
Major parties have fully met the one-third women representation requirement through first-past-the-post candidacies alone.
Feb 9, 2026
False

Major parties have fully met the one-third women representation requirement through first-past-the-post candidacies alone.

Claim Source/Supporters of established parties defending candidate selection

Candidate data for the March 5 election show that women make up only 11.35 percent of all first-past-the-post candidates across 165 constituencies, far below the one-third benchmark. Reporting indicates that major parties have fielded a limited number of women directly and continue to rely heavily on proportional representation lists to meet constitutional obligations. The constitution requires that each party’s total parliamentary delegation contain at least one-third women, combining both direct and proportional seats. It does not mandate that one-third of candidates under the FPTP system must be women, and the Election Commission’s call for one-third women candidacy in direct races is a recommendation rather than a binding rule. Because women’s share of direct candidacies is significantly below 33 percent and parties intend to use proportional lists to compensate, the claim that the requirement has already been met purely through FPTP candidacies is factually incorrect.

Read Analysis
The Election Commission has not taken any action against social media misinformation ahead of the 2026 election.
Feb 9, 2026
False

The Election Commission has not taken any action against social media misinformation ahead of the 2026 election.

Claim Source/Commentators critical of the Election Commission

Public statements and reporting from late January and early February 2026 show that the Election Commission has been actively monitoring and responding to online misinformation. The Information Ethics Promotion Unit under the Election Information Dissemination and Coordination Centre has identified 302 pieces of harmful content and forwarded them to relevant agencies for action under the election code of conduct, cyber law and press legislation. In addition, the commission has worked with security agencies to form a special social media monitoring cell and district-level cyber units. It has also issued notices urging parties, candidates, media and citizens to refrain from sharing deepfakes, manipulated videos and hate speech. These steps may still be insufficient in the eyes of some critics, but they clearly contradict the claim that no action has been taken. The perception that the EC is passive likely stems from limited public disclosure of specific cases rather than a complete absence of monitoring or enforcement. On balance, available evidence shows that the commission is engaged in at least some concrete actions against election-related misinformation.

Read Analysis
Overseas Nepalis will definitely be able to vote online in the March 5, 2026 House of Representatives election.
Feb 9, 2026
Misleading

Overseas Nepalis will definitely be able to vote online in the March 5, 2026 House of Representatives election.

Claim Source/Social media posts and informal political discussions

Government officials and experts have indeed discussed options for enabling diaspora voting, including through ordinances and embassy-based mechanisms, citing a past Supreme Court ruling that called for arrangements for citizens abroad. Policy briefs have outlined possible models and some leaders have publicly expressed support for granting voting rights to Nepalis overseas. However, Election Commission officials have repeatedly stated that allowing out-of-country voting for the March 5, 2026 election is unlikely. Voter registration for this election has already closed and reopening it would require major legal and logistical changes with very little time remaining. Reports from late 2025 and early 2026 show that, while consultations are ongoing, no concrete nationwide system for online or embassy voting has been finalised or announced for this cycle. The claim that overseas Nepalis will definitely be able to vote online in the upcoming election therefore exaggerates the current status of preparations. It mixes long-term policy discussions with short-term realities and gives affected citizens a false certainty about rights that have not yet been operationalised.

Read Analysis
The Nepali Army will be stationed inside every polling centre on March 5, and voters will have to cast their ballots under the army's direct presence.
Feb 8, 2026
Misleading

The Nepali Army will be stationed inside every polling centre on March 5, and voters will have to cast their ballots under the army's direct presence.

Claim Source/viral social media posts and local conversations

Government and security officials have approved an Integrated Election Security Plan 2082 that does envisage a large security deployment—Republica and the Kathmandu Post put the combined number of personnel from all forces at more than 300,000 for the March 5 polls. However, the official security architecture described by New Business Age and NepalNews is layered: temporary police and Nepal Police secure the inside and immediate perimeter of polling centres, the Armed Police Force forms a second ring, and the Nepali Army is responsible for the outer perimeter and strategic installations. Army personnel may be visible near some polling locations, especially in highly sensitive areas, but the plan does not assign them to manage the ballot inside voting rooms. The claim captures the scale of deployment but distorts its nature in a way that could unnecessarily scare voters.

Read Analysis
Many candidates from the 2079 elections have been blacklisted and are barred from contesting the 2082 House of Representatives election even though they submitted their expense details correctly.
Feb 8, 2026
False

Many candidates from the 2079 elections have been blacklisted and are barred from contesting the 2082 House of Representatives election even though they submitted their expense details correctly.

Claim Source/social media posts and some online media reports

In late December 2025, the Election Commission issued a clarification after media reports and social media posts claimed that even candidates who had properly submitted election expense details were blacklisted and barred from running again. In its statement, echoed by Rising Nepal and NepalNews, the EC said that candidates who failed to submit or properly publicise their 2079 expenses were fined, but those who paid the fines or complied later were not disqualified from contesting future elections. The Commission explicitly stated that candidates who submitted their expenses in line with the law "will not be blacklisted" and face no obstacle to running in 2082 so long as fines are settled. The claim that properly compliant candidates are barred from the 2026/2082 HoR election therefore contradicts both EC policy and public clarifications.

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Women still make up less than one-third of candidates on parties' proportional representation lists for the 2026 House of Representatives election.
Feb 8, 2026
False

Women still make up less than one-third of candidates on parties' proportional representation lists for the 2026 House of Representatives election.

Claim Source/panel discussions and political commentary

Multiple outlets citing official Election Commission data report that the final closed list for the proportional representation system contains 3,135 candidates from 63 parties. Of these, around 1,772 are women and 1,363 are men, meaning women constitute a clear majority of PR nominees, not less than one-third. Rising Nepal, Annapurna Express and Ujyaalo Nepal all quote EC figures showing women outnumbering men on the list, even though one Khabarhub story gives a slightly lower female number. While the true test of inclusion lies in who ultimately gets allocated seats, the specific claim that women remain below one-third of PR candidates is not supported by the EC's published figures.

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The Election Commission has completely banned AI-generated content in this election, so any use of artificial intelligence in campaigning is now illegal.
Feb 8, 2026
Misleading

The Election Commission has completely banned AI-generated content in this election, so any use of artificial intelligence in campaigning is now illegal.

Claim Source/commentary by some activists and talk shows

On 7 January 2026, the Election Commission announced new communication regulations under the Election Code of Conduct 2082, which extend campaign rules to online media, social networks and emerging technologies. Coverage by Ujyaalo Nepal and NePulse shows that the EC requires online campaign expenses to be reported, broadens the definition of social media, and explicitly warns against using artificial intelligence to violate the code—for example through deceptive deepfakes. Digital Rights Nepal notes that the EC's Election Information Center will monitor AI-generated disinformation in cooperation with major platforms. None of these documents amount to a blanket ban on all AI use; they target abusive or opaque uses that breach existing rules. The blanket‑ban narrative therefore overstates the restriction and obscures the more nuanced goal of regulating harmful content and undisclosed spending.

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Prachanda's Nepali Communist Party has already sealed a nationwide electoral alliance with the CPN-UML for the March 5 House of Representatives elections.
Feb 8, 2026
False

Prachanda's Nepali Communist Party has already sealed a nationwide electoral alliance with the CPN-UML for the March 5 House of Representatives elections.

Claim Source/partisan social media pages and informal discussions

Speculation about a left alliance has persisted since the merger of several communist parties into the Nepali Communist Party and reports of meetings between NCP coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli. However, recent statements reported by NepalNews and Khabarhub quote Prachanda explicitly ruling out any electoral alliance or seat-sharing deal with other parties, including the UML and Nepali Congress, for the upcoming HoR election. Co-coordinator Madhav Kumar Nepal has also said there is "no basis" for electoral coordination with the UML under current circumstances. While post‑poll arrangements remain an open political question, there is no evidence of a formal nationwide alliance for March 5, and key actors have publicly denied it.

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The Election Commission has already cleared Balendra Shah of all code of conduct complaints and closed his case.
Feb 6, 2026
False

The Election Commission has already cleared Balendra Shah of all code of conduct complaints and closed his case.

Claim Source/Supporters on social media

Election Commission officials and multiple media outlets report that the EC has recently sought a second clarification from Rastriya Swatantra Party candidate Balendra Shah regarding alleged misuse of plainclothes police in his Jhapa-5 campaign. This follows an earlier notice related to his online comments about CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli and additional scrutiny of his social media activity. Under the Election Code of Conduct, 2082, a clarification request signals that a complaint is being examined, not that it has been resolved in the candidate's favour. There is no official EC decision publicly stating that all complaints against Shah have been dismissed, so claims that he has been fully cleared are unsupported by available evidence.

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Security agencies are going into the March 5 election without any integrated plan or advance deployment.
Feb 6, 2026
False

Security agencies are going into the March 5 election without any integrated plan or advance deployment.

Claim Source/Some protest leaders and critical social media posts

Government and Election Commission documents, along with reporting by The Rising Nepal, NepalNews and other outlets, describe an Integrated Election Security Plan, 2082 that was approved in November 2025. The plan coordinates the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, National Investigation Department and temporary election police, with an anticipated deployment of about 338,000 personnel. The Nepali Army began field deployment from February 4, and election police constables have already received appointment letters and commenced training. District-level reports from Kaski and other areas show weapons being surrendered and local security committees activated. While there is room to debate whether these arrangements are adequate or proportionate, it is incorrect to say that there is no integrated plan or advance deployment.

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There will be almost no women in the next House of Representatives because parties did not field women under direct elections.
Feb 6, 2026
Misleading

There will be almost no women in the next House of Representatives because parties did not field women under direct elections.

Claim Source/Call-in shows and opinion pieces discussing candidate lists

Reporting from districts such as Sunsari confirms that women remain significantly underrepresented in first-past-the-post (FPTP) races, with women making up around 17 percent of candidates there. This supports the concern that parties have been slow to nominate women in direct contests. However, the Election Commission has also published a proportional representation (PR) closed list in which women outnumber men, with 1,772 women and 1,363 men among 3,135 candidates. The Constitution requires that women hold at least one-third of seats in the federal parliament when FPTP and PR are combined, and parties are legally obligated to meet this overall threshold. The claim accurately reflects a problem in FPTP nominations but is misleading when it suggests that women will be almost absent from the next House; institutional safeguards and the PR lists make that outcome unlikely, even if deeper equality remains far from achieved.

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The new Election Code of Conduct completely bans the use of social media for any election campaigning.
Feb 6, 2026
Misleading

The new Election Code of Conduct completely bans the use of social media for any election campaigning.

Claim Source/Various television and radio commentators

The Election Code of Conduct, 2082 and related directives explicitly restrict certain types of online behaviour, including operating fake accounts, spreading misinformation or hate speech, using artificial intelligence to manipulate content, and misusing official positions to campaign on social platforms. Coverage by The Himalayan Times, The Rising Nepal and NepalNews, and an explainer by Nepalitelecom, all highlight these rules. However, the Election Commission's own social media policy and public comments clarify that parties and candidates may still share their principles, commitments and action plans through their official accounts, as long as they respect the code. The claim that 'any' campaigning on social media is banned ignores this distinction between regulated and prohibited activities, and therefore oversimplifies the rules in a way that can confuse voters and campaigners.

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For the first time, Nepali migrant workers abroad will be able to vote from overseas in the March 5, 2026 election.
Feb 6, 2026
False

For the first time, Nepali migrant workers abroad will be able to vote from overseas in the March 5, 2026 election.

Claim Source/social media posts and some diaspora groups

The comprehensive election FAQ published by Nepal News, drawing on the House of Representatives Election Act and ECN guidance, states that out-of-country voting is still not permitted despite longstanding debates about enfranchising the diaspora. The explainer notes that the law allows 'provisional voting' only for certain categories of people temporarily posted away from their home districts inside Nepal, such as government employees, soldiers, police, detainees and staff on election duty, and even then only for proportional representation ballots, not first-past-the-post races. None of the official ECN notices or major media outlets indicate that a mechanism has been created for Nepali citizens living abroad to cast ballots from foreign countries in 2026. In the absence of such a legal framework or operational plan, claims that overseas workers will vote from abroad this year are inaccurate.

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The Election Code of Conduct, 2026, applies only to candidates and political parties, not to government officials or security agencies.
Feb 6, 2026
False

The Election Code of Conduct, 2026, applies only to candidates and political parties, not to government officials or security agencies.

Claim Source/some party workers and local leaders

The full text of the Election Code of Conduct, 2026, and summaries by Digital Rights Nepal and Nepal News make clear that the code applies to a wide set of actors, including federal and provincial governments and their ministers, constitutional bodies, local governments, civil servants, security personnel, media institutions and even voters. Recent ECN decisions such as instructing the Judicial Council to halt judge appointments during the code period underline that state institutions are bound by these rules. Digital Rights Nepal highlights that government agencies and security forces face restrictions on campaigning, use of state resources and digital propaganda under the same code that governs parties and candidates. The claim that officials and security agencies are exempt is therefore directly contradicted by both the legal document and its enforcement.

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Only the biggest national parties are allowed to submit proportional representation lists, effectively excluding smaller parties from PR seats.
Feb 6, 2026
Misleading

Only the biggest national parties are allowed to submit proportional representation lists, effectively excluding smaller parties from PR seats.

Claim Source/talk radio commentary and partisan statements

The Nepal News evening briefing on the final proportional representation list reports that 63 political parties submitted closed lists for the 110 House of Representatives PR seats. The broader election explainer from Nepal News and data from the ECN indicate that 120 parties registered for the snap polls, though not all chose to field candidates or submit PR lists. The legal framework does not reserve PR access for a few large parties; instead, any registered party that meets ECN criteria may submit a list. However, electoral thresholds and the distribution formula mean that only parties crossing a certain vote share will actually gain seats, which tends to favour better-known parties. So while smaller parties are legally able to participate in the PR tier, structural factors make it harder for them to convert votes into seats, making the claim partially grounded in outcome but inaccurate about formal rules.

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The Election Commission has not recruited any temporary 'election police' and will rely only on regular security forces.
Feb 6, 2026
False

The Election Commission has not recruited any temporary 'election police' and will rely only on regular security forces.

Claim Source/local rumours in some districts

Multiple outlets, including Khabarhub, Nepal News and the Nepal News election explainer, describe an Integrated Election Security Plan that explicitly includes large numbers of temporary 'election police' or election constables. Khabarhub reports that around 133,000 election police will support roughly 77,000 Nepal Police officers at polling centres, while the Nepal News explainer notes an overall deployment of more than 300,000 security personnel, including tens of thousands of newly recruited temporary constables. Coverage by Channel NewsAsia similarly references 'tens of thousands of young Nepalis' hired for temporary policing jobs. These consistent accounts contradict claims that only regular security forces will be deployed.

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TikTok will be completely banned again in Nepal during the March 5 election campaign period.
Feb 6, 2026
False

TikTok will be completely banned again in Nepal during the March 5 election campaign period.

Claim Source/social media posts and online commentary

Recent statements by the Election Commission of Nepal and TikTok, as reported by The Rising Nepal, The Himalayan Times, myRepublica and Nepalitelecom.com, describe a memorandum of understanding in which TikTok provides free support to promote official information, remove content that violates Nepali law and run election integrity workshops; none of these reports mention a new blanket ban. The government had previously unbanned TikTok under certain conditions, and current coverage frames the platform as a regulated partner rather than a service to be shut down. Under the Election Code of Conduct, 2026, the ECN can ask platforms to remove specific unlawful content, but there is no evidence of a general prohibition on TikTok during the campaign. In the absence of any ECN notice or government decision announcing a fresh ban, claims of an automatic nationwide shutdown are not supported.

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