Digital Rights Weekly| Year 5 Issue 10

Nepal’s 2026 House of Representatives Election: Democracy in Transition in the Digital Age
Nepal has marked a significant moment in its democratic journey with the successful conduct of the 2026 House of Representatives Election, held in the aftermath of the Gen Z-led revolution. Despite early uncertainties about whether the elections would be held on schedule, the Interim Government successfully conducted the polls in a largely safe and peaceful manner. Only a few isolated incidents were reported across the country, and these were promptly addressed by authorities, allowing the electoral process to proceed smoothly.
The election recorded a 60 percent voter turnout, which is comparatively lower than in previous national elections. According to preliminary election results, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is projected to secure close to a two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives. If confirmed, this would mark a major shift in Nepal’s parliamentary politics and could significantly reshape the country’s governance landscape. At the same time, the results suggest the emergence of a relatively weak opposition, creating both opportunities and challenges for democratic governance. While a strong majority government may allow for more stable policymaking and implementation, a weaker opposition could limit parliamentary checks and balances and potentially affect democratic oversight.
Beyond electoral outcomes, this election represents a notable shift in the role of digital spaces in Nepal’s political landscape. Political parties, candidates, media actors, and other electoral stakeholders extensively relied on social media platforms, messaging applications, and other digital tools to disseminate information, mobilize supporters, and engage with voters. The digital sphere increasingly served as a primary arena for political communication and public discourse.
However, the growing reliance on digital platforms also exposed emerging risks to the integrity of the information ecosystem. The election period witnessed the spread of misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, harassment, and manipulative digital content. The increasing accessibility of generative AI tools further enabled the creation and circulation of cheapfakes and deepfakes, raising concerns about electoral transparency, public trust, and informed democratic participation. At the same time, the rise of political advertising, targeted messaging, and data-driven campaigning on digital platforms highlights urgent questions related to transparency, fairness, and accountability in Nepal’s electoral processes.
As Nepal moves forward under a newly elected parliament, the intersection of democracy, digital rights, and information integrity will remain central to strengthening inclusive and accountable governance in the years ahead.

Post-Election Misinformation Continues to Spread on Social Media
Post House of Representatives elections on March 5, 2026, false and misleading claims continue to circulate widely across social media. These rumors often involve alleged actions by political leaders or purported disruptions to public services following the election.
For instance, a viral notice falsely claimed that Nepali Congress leader Sunil Sharma had discontinued free health services at his hospitals after losing the election. Mr. Sharma later clarified on Facebook that he continues to provide health services, including free treatments and substantial discounts through Nobel Medical College and Kathmandu Medical College, with election outcomes having no impact on these services.
Another viral clip claims that UML Chairman and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli wept after losing the election. Fact-checking confirmed this is false: the video is a 9-year-old interview, repurposed with a misleading caption to make it appear as if it reflects the recent election results. Similarly, a video showing Binita Kathayat, a RASWAPA candidate from Jumla, appearing emotional was falsely linked to her election loss. The video is over a year old and was originally captured while she was watched a film, not in response to election results.
Another misleading post attributed a statement to CPN (UML) leader Pradeep Gyawali, claiming discontent over RASWAPA’s performance. Gyawali refuted the claim on Facebook, describing it as a deliberate attempt to spread confusion and propaganda.
The above examples are just a few of many. Across social media, AI-generated deepfakes, cheap fakes, and synthetic content are increasingly common, either mocking statements, defeated parties, candidates, and their supporters, or creating unrealistic expectations from the government that will form after the election results.
These incidents highlight the ongoing challenge of misinformation in Nepal’s digital space, even post-election. Such false narratives rapidly erode public trust, distort perceptions of electoral outcomes, and threaten democratic discourse. In an era of AI-generated content and viral rumors, fact-checking, verification, and media literacy remain critical. Citizens are urged to cross-check information with reliable sources before sharing online to help safeguard truth, accountability, and the integrity of Nepal’s democratic processes.