All political parties are aggressively campaigning for march 5 election in Nepal. Along with road shows, public addresses and door-to-door campaigns, the political parties are trying to woo voters with a fresh approach post the Gen-Z movement. Nepali Congress Chairman Gagan Thapa is contesting from Sarlahi-4, in the Madhesh Pradesh, pitching himself as the youth-orientated and most experienced politician in Nepal.
Former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal – who now heads the Nepali Communist Party – is contesting the polls from Rukum East. Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Coordinator of the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) and former Prime Minister, addressed a major election rally in Libang, Rolpa, delivering a final pre-election message. In December 2025, eight political parties unified to formally announce the formation of the CPN. Since then, more than 20 additional parties and groups have joined the party.
Former Prime Minister K. P. S. Oli is contesting from Jhapa-5 and focuses on personal visits to voters in his constituency. Despite the Gen Z movement, Oli secured a third term as chair of the CPN-UML at its 11th General Convention held in December 2025, showing his popularity among the loyalists.
The Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chairperson, Rabi Lamichhane, considers Chitwan as its stronghold and is once again contesting from Chitwan-2. Balendra Shah, the former Kathmandu mayor turned prime ministerial candidate of RSP, has spent the past month touring the country campaigning for the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP). He is contesting from Jhapa-5. Now, the race in Jhapa-5 is not just for a parliamentary seat but symbolises a broader clash between generational legacy shown by UML and youthful ambition represented by Balen.
Rajendra Prasad Lingden of the Rashtriya Prajatantra Party is contesting from Jhapa-3. Shram Sanskriti Party Chair Harka Raj Rai Sampang, popularly known as Harka Sampang, who is the mayor of Dharan, is contesting from Sunsari-1. He gained popularity after the Gen Z protest when youth searched for young faces to lead the country. Upendra Yadav, chairman of Janata Samajbadi Party Nepal (JSP-N), is contesting from Saptari-3. Janmat Party President Dr Chandrakant Raut is contesting from Saptari-2.
Sudhan Gurung of Hami Nepal, who supported the Gen Z Movement on September 8 as a candidate of the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP), is contesting from Gorkha Constituency No. 1 for the upcoming election to the House of Representatives.
Four ministers in the interim government resigned to contest the election on March 5. The chairperson of the Ujyalo Nepal Party and former Energy Minister Kulman Ghising is contesting from Kathmandu Constituency No. 3. Former Minister Bablu Gupta, who became the Minister of Youth and Sports in the interim government, has filed his candidacy from the Siraha-1 constituency.
Former Minister for Education, Science and Technology in the interim government, Mahabir Pun, is contesting the upcoming March 5 House of Representatives election from the Myagdi-1 constituency as an independent candidate. Former communication Minister in Sushila Karki’s interim government, Jagdish Kharel, is the RSP candidate from Lalitpur-2.
