In a ceremony marking a significant shift in Nepal’s political landscape, the newly elected members of the House of Representatives (HoR) took their official oaths of office today, March 26, 2026.
The event was held at a specially prepared temporary hall within the under-construction Federal Parliament Building at Singha Durbar. The move to the new premises—even as finishing touches continue—was seen as a symbolic step toward the modernization of Nepal’s legislative branch following the March 5 general elections.
The Swearing-In Ceremony
As the eldest member of the House, senior lawmaker Arjun Narsingh KC (78) administered the oath to his fellow parliamentarians. KC, a veteran leader from the Nepali Congress, had been sworn in by President Ramchandra Paudel at Sheetal Niwas on Wednesday to facilitate today’s mass ceremony.
The Secretariat confirmed that 274 lawmakers were scheduled to be sworn in. In a display of the country’s cultural diversity, at least 63 members chose to take their oaths in their mother tongues, including Maithili, Bhojpuri, and Tharu, rather than the national language, Nepali.
Parliamentary Composition
Today’s ceremony solidifies the results of the recent snap elections, which saw a dramatic reorganization of power:
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Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP): Emerged as the dominant force with a landslide 182 seats.
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Nepali Congress (NC): Retained 38 seats, transitioning into the role of the main opposition.
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CPN-UML: Secured 25 seats.
Transition of Power
The oath-taking paves the way for the formal appointment of the new government. Immediately following the ceremony, the RSP is expected to hold a parliamentary party meeting to officially nominate Balendra Shah (Balen) as their leader.
Protocol dictates that once the parliamentary leader is chosen, the path is clear for the President to appoint the new Prime Minister. Current reports indicate the Prime Ministerial swearing-in is slated for tomorrow, Friday, March 27, at an astrologically selected time of 12:34 PM.
For now, the focus remains on the “God of Rain,” as the Seto Machhindranath Jatra begins its procession through the streets of Kathmandu this evening, coinciding with the first official day of the new parliament.