1. Elections in Asia 2026: Bangladesh, Japan, Nepal and Thailand
Several of India's neighbours and Asian partners voted in early 2026. Bangladesh and Nepal chose new governments after the political upheavals of 2024 and 2025, while Japan and Thailand held early elections that strengthened their sitting prime ministers. These results are very important for exams because they affect India's neighbourhood policy.
Bangladesh: BNP returns to power
- Bangladesh held its general election on 12 February 2026, the first since Sheikh Hasina's government fell in August 2024.
- The country had been run by an interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus for about 18 months.
- The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies won a two-thirds majority, and the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance came second and became the main opposition.
- A referendum on the 'July National Charter' (a package of political reforms) was held on the same day, and voters approved it (about 60% in favour).
- BNP leader Tarique Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, was sworn in as Prime Minister on 17 February 2026.
Nepal: a new party sweeps the election
- Nepal voted on 5 March 2026, after the youth-led ('Gen Z') protests of September 2025 brought down the K.P. Sharma Oli government.
- The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) won 182 of the 275 seats in the House of Representatives, a clear majority on its own.
- Former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah ('Balen') defeated K.P. Sharma Oli in Oli's home constituency, Jhapa-5.
- Balendra Shah was sworn in as Prime Minister on 27 March 2026, becoming, at 35, Nepal's youngest Prime Minister.
Japan and Thailand: early elections
- Japan held a snap general election on 8 February 2026, called by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Japan's first woman Prime Minister (in office since October 2025).
- Her Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) won 316 of the 465 seats in the House of Representatives, more than a two-thirds majority on its own.
- The Diet (Japan's parliament) re-elected Takaichi as Prime Minister on 18 February 2026.
- Thailand also voted on 8 February 2026; the Bhumjaithai Party won the most seats, and its leader Anutin Charnvirakul was re-elected Prime Minister by parliament on 19 March 2026.
Quick facts
- Bangladesh election
- 12 February 2026; BNP wins two-thirds majority
- Bangladesh PM
- Tarique Rahman (BNP), sworn in 17 February 2026
- Nepal election
- 5 March 2026; RSP wins 182 of 275 seats
- Nepal PM
- Balendra Shah ('Balen'), sworn in 27 March 2026
- Japan snap election
- 8 February 2026; LDP wins 316 of 465 seats
- Japan PM
- Sanae Takaichi (first woman PM of Japan)
- Thailand PM
- Anutin Charnvirakul (Bhumjaithai Party), re-elected March 2026
💡 Learn each election as a set of three: date, winning party, and new leader. For example: Nepal, 5 March, RSP, Balendra Shah.
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