Global Politics Early Bird

CWA # 2033
Global Politics Early Bird
Nepal after elections:
Five major challenges for the new government

Mahesh Bhatta
23 March 2026

Photo Source: Kathmandu Post

Nepal’s most recent elections have marked a significant turning point in the country’s political landscape. The early general elections held in March 2026 were triggered by the dissolution of parliament following widespread GEN-Z protests against corruption and governance failures in 2025. 

The elections witnessed a dramatic shift away from traditional parties such as the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML. The relatively new Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has emerged as a dominant force, winning a sweeping majority in parliament; it has secured 182 out of 275 seats in the House of Representatives—125 through direct (FPTP) elections and 57 through proportional representation, giving it a near two-thirds majority. Traditional parties performed poorly; the Nepali Congress (NC) secured a distant second with 38 seats, while the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) (CPN-UML) got 25 seats, reflecting a sharp decline in their influence.  

Five major challenges ahead
This overwhelming mandate places the RSP in a strong position to form a stable government on its own without depending on any coalition, a rare development in Nepal’s politics. The results reflect growing public frustration, especially among young voters with long-standing political instability and elite-driven politics, as well as a strong demand for transparency, economic reform and better governance. The election represents both a rejection of the old political order and the beginning of a potentially transformative, yet uncertain, new phase in Nepal’s democratic trajectory.

The RSP is entering government with a historic mandate but that also means expectations are extraordinarily high. Based on recent developments, the new government faces the following key challenges.

1. Managing a high public expectation
Managing high public expectations will be critical. RSP’s victory is rooted in widespread frustration over corruption, unemployment, poor governance and demand for systemic change and service delivery particularly among youth. Failure to show early results could quickly erode trust, especially among Gen Z voters who drove the movement. 

2. Governance capacity and experience gaps 
The party must address gaps in governance capacity and experience. As a relatively new political party with many first-time lawmakers, RSP lacks administrative experience, which may complicate policy implementation, bureaucratic and state management in a complex federal system.

3. Internal party cohesion within the RSP
Internal cohesion and party institutionalisation remain a major concern. Despite electoral success, internal disputes, leadership criticism, resignations of some leaders in the past and allegations of weak internal democracy and transparency might pose a challenge in maintaining unity and building a stable party structure in the coming days.

4. Economic Delivery and Systemic Reform Challenges
Fourth, delivering economic results and reforming deeply rooted systems. Nepal faces structural economic challenges, including high youth unemployment, large-scale labour migration abroad, a weak industrial base, and heavy dependence on remittances. RSP will be under pressure to generate domestic employment opportunities, improve the investment climate and gradually reduce dependence on remittances. Failure to deliver on these fronts, especially if public expectations are not carefully managed it could heighten political risks and lead to growing public mistrust. At the same time, the party’s mandate is grounded in widespread public frustration with rooted political elites, corruption networks and bureaucratic inefficiency. However, these structures are deeply embedded within Nepal’s governance system, and efforts to reform them are likely to encounter resistance from within the state system itself.

5. Foreign policy balancing 
Fifth, managing foreign relations, particularly balancing ties between India and China as well as with the West, will be a key challenge for the RSP. Nepal has traditionally maintained a non-aligned position between its two powerful neighbours, but any new government will face close inspection from external actors. RSP will need to carefully navigate issues such as trade, infrastructure partnerships and broader geopolitical pressures while maintaining strategic balance. Given the party’s relative inexperience in foreign policy, missteps in managing these relationships could invite external pressure or contribute to instability, making this a particularly sensitive area in the early phase of governance.

The real challenge for the RSP ahead is not merely winning the election or forming the government but rather translating a protest-driven mandate into stable and effective governance without losing credibility.

Also read
Mahesh Bhatta, "Nepal Elections 2026: The Rise of the New and the Fall of the Old," CWA # 2010, 09 March 2026

Sreemaya Nair, "Nepal Elections 2026: Rise of a new leadership and Reset in political landscape," The World This Week #347, 08 March 2026

Mahesh Bhatta, "Nepal Election 2026, Day One: Peaceful polling, with over 60 per cent turnout," CWA # 2006, 6 March 2026

PREVIOUS COMMENTS

February 2026 | CWA # 1959

Yesasvi Koganti | Yesasvi Koganti is an undergraduate student from Madras Christian College, Chennai.

UK and China
February 2026 | CWA # 1957

R Preetha | R Preetha is pursuing post-graduation in the Department of International Studies, Stella Maris College, Chennai, and is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru.

The India–US interim trade framework
February 2026 | CWA # 1956

Lekshmi MK | Lekshmi MK is pursuing post-graduation in the Department of Political Science, Madras Christian College, Chennai, and is a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru.

End of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START)
State of Global Politics 2025
December 2025 | CWA # 1931

Padmashree Anandhan

NATO Summit 2025
State of Global Politics 2025
December 2025 | CWA # 1924

Padmashree Anandhan

NATO Summit 2025
This Week in History
August 2025 | CWA # 1801

R Preetha

28 August 1963
TWTW note
August 2025 | CWA # 1780

Abhiruchi Chowdhury

Trump tariffs:
This Week in History
August 2025 | CWA # 1778

Lekshmi MK

28 July 1914
TWTW Note
June 2025 | CWA # 1694

Aashish Ganeshan

The US:
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1689

Padmashree Anandhan

Ukraine
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1688

Ayan Datta

Gaza
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1675

Lekshmi MK

Turkey:
CW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1673

Padmashree Anandhan

Ukraine:
TWTW Note
May 2025 | CWA # 1667

R Preetha and Brighty Ann Sarah

East Asia:
NIAS Global Politics Database
March 2024 | CWA # 1251

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
NIAS Global Politics Database
February 2024 | CWA # 1226

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1189

Hoimi Mukherjee | Hoimi Mukherjee is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science in Bankura Zilla Saradamani Mahila Mahavidyapith.

Chile in 2023: Crises of Constitutionality
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1187

Aprajita Kashyap | Aprajita Kashyap is a faculty of Latin American Studies, School of International Studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi.

Haiti in 2023: The Humanitarian Crisis
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1185

Binod Khanal | Binod Khanal is a Doctoral candidate at the Centre for European Studies, School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi.

The Baltic: Energy, Russia, NATO and China
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1183

Padmashree Anandhan | Padmashree Anandhan is a Research Associate at the School of Conflict and Security Studies, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangaluru.

Germany in 2023: Defence, Economy and Energy Triangle
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1178

​​​​​​​Ashok Alex Luke | Ashok Alex Luke is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science at CMS College, Kottayam.

China and South Asia in 2023: Advantage Beijing?
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1177

Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri | Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri is a postgraduate student at the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies at the University of Madras, Chennai.

China and East Asia
The War in Ukraine
October 2023 | CWA # 1091

Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri

Issues for Europe
IPRI Quarterly Forecasts I Triggers, Trends, and Trajectories
July 2023 | CWA # 1012

Bibhu Prasad Routray

Myanmar continues to burn
2022: The World This Year
December 2022 | CWA # 879

Padmashree Anandhan

The Ukraine War
Europe: Heatwaves, Wildfires, Droughts, and Ice Melt in Alps
November 2022 | CWA # 838

Rishma Banerjee

Tracing Europe's droughts
NIAS Africa Weekly
March 2022 | CWA # 705

NIAS Africa Team

In Focus: Libya
The World This Week: 150th Issue
December 2021 | CWA # 630

GP Team

Europe in 2021
Pakistan Reader
October 2021 | CWA # 588

Abigail Miriam Fernandez

TLP is back again
NIAS Fortnightly on Science, Technology & International Relations
August 2021 | CWA # 528

STIR Team

Space Tourism
Science, Technology and International Relations
September 2019 | CWA # 162

Lakshman Chakravarthy N

5G: A Primer
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 71

Mahesh Bhatta | Centre for South Asian Studies, Kathmandu

Nepal
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 70

Nasima Khatoon | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

The Maldives
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 69

Harini Madhusudan | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

India
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 68

Sourina Bej | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

Bangladesh
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 67

Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

Afghanistan