Nepal has a multi-party democracy, and the Election Comission of Nepal grants recognition to national-level and Province-level political parties based on objective criteria. A recognised political party enjoys privileges. The ECN periodically reviews the recognized party status. Only registered parties will be eligible to participate in the proportional electoral system.

History Nepal's political party system evolved from clandestine movements against autocratic rule, such as the Nepal Praja Parishad (1936), to the establishment of Nepali Congress in 1947. The 1990 Jana Andolan restored multiparty democracy, and the 2006 movement led to the abolition of the monarchy, establishing a federal democratic republic. Communist parties, including the Maoist insurgents, have played a significant role in shaping modern Nepalese politics.

Legal framework Political parties in Nepal are registered under the Political Parties Act, 2058 (2002) and the Political Party Registration Rules, 2063 (2007). Registration requires submission of statutes, manifesto, flag, election symbol, and signatures from at least 10,000 voters. Parties must hold internal elections, ensure inclusivity, and comply with democratic principles to maintain registration.

Current landscape As of 2025, the Election Commission has registered 137 parties, reflecting a highly fragmented political system. Governance is dominated by a few major parties, but smaller and regional parties influence coalition-building and local governance. Ideologically, Nepalese parties range from far-left Marxist-Leninist and Maoist groups to centrist social democrats and right-wing monarchist factions, with frequent mergers and splits shaping the political dynamics.

Nepal’s multi-party system continues to evolve, balancing national representation with regional and ethnic interests, making it a complex but vibrant democratic landscape.

National parties A party registered with the Election Commission of Nepal is recognised as a national party only if it fulfils the two conditions listed below: The party needs to win at least one FPTP seat in House of Representatives. The party gets at least 3% of the total valid proportional representation (PR) votes in House of Representatives.

There are currently six national parties in Nepal. Party FoundedPoliticalpositionIdeologyLeaderFederal ParliamentProvincial AssembliesLocal governmentPratinidhiSabhaRastriyaSabhaKoshiMadheshBagmatiGandakiLumbiniKarnaliSudur­pashchimHeadsCouncillorsRSP2022Centre Economic liberalismProgressivismConstitutional socialism Congress1950 to Social democracyDemocratic socialismCommunist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist)CPN-UML1991Centre-left to left-wingCommunismMarxism–LeninismNepali Communist PartyNCP2025Left-wingCommunismMarxism–LeninismSSP2025Harka SampangRPP1990 Economic liberalismHindutvaRajendra Prasad Lingden

Other parties currently represented in the Federal parliament A political party securing less than 3% of the PR votes will have to send its directly elected or FPTP candidates to the parliament as independent lawmakers. In other words, candidates from any political party failing to meet the criteria to become a national party will be ineligible to be represented in parliament as a party.

There are currently two such political parties which failed to achieve national status yet are represented in Nepal's Parliament.

PartyFoundedPoliticalpositionIdeologyLeaderFederal ParliamentProvincial AssembliesLocal governmentPratinidhiSabhaRastriyaSabhaMadheshLumbiniHeadsCouncillors2020to Minority rights2006CommunismMarxism–LeninismAnti-federalism

Parties currently represented only in provincial assemblies PartyFoundedPolitical positionLeaderProvincial AssembliesLocal governmentHeadCouncillorsLocal councils2019rowspan=2 2024to rowspan=2 1975Narayan Man Bijukchhe2022Big tent 20162025

Parties represented only in local government PartyPolitical positionLeaderLocal governmentHeadCouncillorsLocal councilsPrabhu SahRight-wingTribhuvan Nath Pathak(Federal Democratic National Front)Centre-leftCentre-leftBhanuram Dagaura TharuCentre-leftKhadak Prasad Palungwa(Bahujan Power Party)Centre-left (Bahujan Unity Party Nepal)Left-wingHarinandan Kumar RanjanNepal Sushashan PartyNepal Sadbhawana Party(Nepal Goodwill Party)

Other parties Party Political positionFoundedLeaderLeft-wing2025Baburam Bhattarai Ujyaalo Nepal PartyCentre-left2025Kulman GhisingRastriya Pariwartan Party2025Rajesh PortelJanadesh Party2025Raman Kumar KarnaNagrik Unmukti Party, Nepal2025Resham Lal ChaudharyRastriya Mukti Party Nepal2025Rajendra MahatoCPN (Maoist)2014Netra Bikram ChandMongol National Organisation1989Gopal GurungNepal Pariwar DalCentre-rightEk Nath DhakalCommunist Party of Nepal (Marxist–Leninist)Left-wingChandra Prakash MainaliShree Mahendra Dal(Shreemad), NepalSushil K. BishtKhambuwan Rashtriya Morcha, NepalRam Kumar RaiBouddhik Prajatantrik ParishadLaxman RajbanshiJana Jagaran Party Nepal Lokmani DhakalSamajvadi Janata PartyCentre-leftPrem Bahadur SinghSanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Manch (Tharuhat)Rukmini ChaudharyMadhesh Terai ForumAmar YadavNepal Communist Party (Marxist)Far-leftPrakash AdhikariCommunist Party of NepalFar-leftRishi Ram KattelCommunist Party of NepalMadhesi Janaadhikar Forum MadheshBhagya Nath GuptaCommunist Party of Nepal (Marxist–Leninist-Socialist)Far-leftBishnu Raj AryalShiva Sena NepalRight-wing to far-rightArun SubediNepal Sukumbasi Party (Loktantrik)Hukum Bahadur LamaBahujan Samaj Party NepalCentre-leftGanga Prasad MaharaDeshbhakta Paryabaraniya Samajik MorchaCentreSurendra Prasad DhakalRastrabadi Ekta PartyUma ShresthaTamangsaling Loktantrik PartyLok DalKaushal Kumar SinghDeshbhakta SamajJanashakti NepalRam Kumar OjhaMiteri Party NepalRastriya Shiva Sena PartyRight-wingBikram Bahadur BamAkhanda Sudurpashchim Party NepalKhagendra AwasthiNepal Prajatantrik Pragatisheel PartyPichhadabarga Nishad Dalit Janajati PartyJanasamajvadi Party, NepalCentre-leftChurebhawar Loktantrik PartyBhumiraj NiraulaRastriya Churebhavar PartyShiva Prasad TamangChure Bhawar Rastriya PartyKeshav Prasad MainaliChure Bhawar Rastriya Ekta Party NepalBadri NeupaneRastriya Janata Dal NepalBharat Prasad MahatoLok Kalyankari Janata Party, NepalNepal Samajbadi Party (Lohiyabadi)Centre-leftGandhivadi Party NepalRastravadi PartyNepal Purvarastrasevak Loktantrik PartyNepal Janaloktantrik PartyNepal People's PartyRastriya Jana Ekta PartyHamro PartyNepal Dalit PartyHamro Party NepalYuva Nepal PartyNepal Loktantrik Janata Congress PartyNepal Samajwadi Janata DalLeft-wingNepal Bahudal PartyAmbika RanaPrajatantrik Shakti PartyCentre-rightGanesh Bahadur ShresthaNepali Jantantra PartyPeople's Progressive PartyCentre-leftJukti Jung LamichhaneUnnat Loktantra PartyN/ASwagat Nepal

Defunct parties This is a list of defunct political parties of Nepal that have had some representation in the legislature. PartyFoundedDefunctNepal Rashtrabadi Gorkha ParishadBajracharya, Bhadra Ratha/Sharma, Sita Ram/Bakshi S.R.. Political development in Nepal. New Delhi: Anmol Publications, 1993. p. 114, 1151951UnknownCommunist Party of Nepal19491962Nepal Praja Parishad19511961Samyukta Prajatantra Party1955UnknownCommunist Party of Nepal (Democratic)19791991Samyukta Janamorcha Nepal19912002Communist Party of Nepal (United)19912005Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre)19942025Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Chand)19971998Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist–Leninist)19982002Nepali Congress (Democratic)20022007Janamorcha Nepal20022009Nepal Sadbhavana Party (Anandidevi)20032015Communist Party of Nepal (Unified)20072013Rastriya Janashakti Party20072013Madheshi Jana Adhikar Forum, Nepal20072015Sadbhavana Party20072017Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party20072017Madheshi Jana Adhikar Forum, Nepal (Loktantrik)20092017Communist Party of Nepal Marxist−Leninist (Samajbadi)20102013Terai Madhesh Loktantrik Party Nepal20102013Madheshi Jana Adhikar Forum (Republican)20112017Federal Socialist Party, Nepal20122015Rastriya Madhesh Samajbadi Party20132017Terai Madhesh Sadbhavana Party20132017Federal Socialist Forum, Nepal20152019Naya Shakti Party, Nepal20162019Rastriya Janata Party Nepal20162019Nepal Loktantrik Forum20172017Bibeksheel Sajha Party20172025Rastriya Janata Party Nepal20172020Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Democratic)20172020Nepal Communist Party20182021Samajbadi Party, Nepal20192020Rastriya Sadbhavana PartyUnknown2013Akhanda Nepal PartyUnknown2017Sanghiya Sadbhavana PartyUnknown2017Samajbadi Janata PartyUnknownUnknownLoktantrik Samajwadi Party, Nepal20212025

See also

Politics of Nepal List of communist parties in Nepal List of regional and ethnicity based parties in Nepal

References

External links List of parties at the Election Commission of Nepal