Dalit representation in Nepal’s federal parliament remains significantly below their population share, with deeper inequalities persisting within the community itself. Despite constitutional commitments to proportional inclusion, recent data shows that Dalits hold only about 6.2 per cent of parliamentary seats, roughly half of their 13 per cent share in the national population.
The imbalance is further pronounced among Dalit subgroups. A large majority of Dalit lawmakers come from the Bishwakarma community, accounting for around 82 per cent of those elected in the latest parliament. Over the past three decades, this trend has remained consistent, with hill Dalit groups dominating representation while other communities remain largely excluded.
Madhesi Dalits, in particular, have seen their representation decline sharply. In the most recent election, no Madhesi Dalit candidate secured a seat in parliament. This continues a long-standing pattern of marginalisation, even after the introduction of proportional representation aimed at improving inclusion.
Nepal has held seven parliamentary elections over the past 34 years, and while reforms after the 2006 people’s movement increased Dalit participation initially, the gains have not been evenly distributed. Analysts point to party-controlled candidate selection under the proportional system as a key factor, where leadership decisions often favour individuals with stronger political access and networks.
Legal efforts to challenge the exclusion of Madhesi Dalits have repeatedly failed to produce timely outcomes. Court cases filed to enforce constitutional provisions on equitable representation have either remained unresolved or been dismissed after parliamentary terms expired.
Experts and rights advocates argue that the current system does not adequately address internal disparities within marginalised groups. Suggestions include creating separate quotas for under-represented Dalit subgroups or reforming electoral laws to ensure fairer distribution of seats.
Without structural reforms, concerns remain that Nepal’s inclusion policies may continue to benefit only a limited section within already marginalised communities.
