This political situation update (PSU) delves into the ongoing identity-based mobilization and its potential implications.

There were 32 political incidents recorded between January 8 and February 7, 2018. 29 incidents were related to protests over the location of provincial capitals, in at least four of those incidents the protesters clashed with police resulting into multiple injuries. Two incidents involved demonstrations against moving local level centers and one incident entailed a protest against the language used by provincial assembly members during the first province assembly meeting in Province 2.

There were 47 political incidents recorded between December 8 and January 7, 2017, the one-month period after the completion of the second phase of parliamentary and provincial elections. Of all the incidents recorded during this period, 20 were related to the parliamentary and provincial elections.

On June 28, 2017, more than 6.4 million voters were called upon to participate in the second phase of Nepal’s local polls, electing more than 15,000 local representatives in 334 local units across Provinces 1, 5, and 7. According to the Election Commission of Nepal voter turnout was 73.69 percent, similar to the May 14 first phase elections. Polling was postponed until September 18 in Province 2 after the government could not reach an agreement with agitating Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN).

On May 11 midnight began the silence period for the first phase of local election in Nepal. 4,556,525 registered voters were called upon to elect candidates for 13,556 positions in 283 local bodies of 34 districts in province 3, 4, and 6 on May 14, 2017. According to the Election Commission voter turnout stood at 71 percent of registered voters. Despite various incidents, some involving deadly violence, both the Election Commission of Nepal and National Human Rights Commission in the evening of May 14 concluded that the first phase of election had been relatively peaceful.

On March 15, Madheshi Morcha withdrew support for the government and announced it would boycott and disrupt elections scheduled for May 14, 2017 unless its demands are resolved through a constitutional amendment. The Morcha then launched a protest program against the elections.