As the House of Representatives elections approach on March 5, the political landscape is witnessing a troubling surge in digital hostility. With 388 women competing for first-past-the-post (FPTP) seats, the proximity of the polls has triggered a wave of character assassination and targeted vitriol across social media and online platforms.

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Among those bearing the brunt of this onslaught is Ranju Darshana. Representing the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in Kathmandu-1, Darshana embodies a striking contrast: a heavy womb paired with an unwavering ambition to shoulder the nation’s responsibilities. Set to become a mother this month, she has remained remarkably active on the campaign trail, driven by the desire to transform the country’s future for the sake of her unborn child.

However, her commitment has been met with a barrage of abuse. Her pregnancy, rather than being respected, has been weaponized by online trolls who have subjected her to a series of obscene and offensive comments, turning her journey toward motherhood into a target for digital malice.

“When are you going to give birth?”

“Can’t call her a w*, she’s a donut-seller (sel-roti wali),”

“This woman is also part of a gang of swindlers,”

“Who are you, you b*? Why should we even vote for you?”

…

The derogatory slurs used against her are too numerous and graphic to be mentioned here. Despite being the target of such vitriol, Ranju has steeled herself, maintaining her composure. “It is only natural to feel hurt when encountering such grotesque language,” she says. “But people will always have something to say. I remain strong.”

Nisha Adhikari, the candidate from Kathmandu-5 representing the Gatishil Loktantrik Party, has similarly been subjected to a relentless barrage of repulsive and demeaning comments:

“...Auntie, are you single?”

“Beautiful and sexy.”

“Oh, you just have to be such a staunch feminist, don’t you?”

…

Much like the case with Ranju, many of the comments directed at Nisha are too offensive to be documented here. She believes these remarks stem from a deeply rooted, narrow-minded patriarchal mindset that still grips society. “There is a barrage of commentary coming in,” she says. “Even during my time as an actress, I filed complaints regarding such issues. However, the complaint process is incredibly tedious and enforcement remains weak. Even when I present logical arguments regarding my work, I am met with vile abuse.”

Binita Kathayat, another candidate from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has faced similar vitriol. As the sole female candidate from Jumla, she has been targeted with comments such as:

“When are you going to have a child without getting married?”

“Her only agenda is to have a child out of wedlock; the public is clear on that.”

“Wherever you find her, set the dogs on her.”

Reflecting on the abuse, Binita says, “They post comments suggesting they should send men over so I can have children. These are games played by my opponents specifically to shatter my morale. But I will not be intimidated. They likely believe that by making such defamatory remarks, they can discourage women from ever finding the courage to rise.”

Rima Bishwokarma, a proportional candidate for the RSP, has also been the target of countless uncivil comments. Having transitioned from the entertainment industry into politics, Bishwokarma continues to move forward with courage and resilience. However, the toxicity reached a new low recently when an AI-generated deepfake image began circulating, showing her pregnant between Ravi Lamichhane and Balen Shah, with their hands placed on her stomach, a grotesque distortion of reality.

Aliza Gautam, a proportional candidate from the Aam Janata Party, is equally active on the campaign trail and equally victimized by cyber-attacks. “I don't care what they say anymore,” she states. “Of course it hurts. But there is a literal reign of terror carried out through fake accounts intended to assassinate one’s character and hurl baseless accusations.” As a mother of two, she explains that she pushes forward by ignoring the negativity. “I try to treat the negative comments as noise and focus on maintaining a positive outlook.”

As the House of Representatives elections on March 5 approach, the 388 women competing in the first-past-the-post category are facing an uphill battle against digital misogyny. The closer the polls get, the more the character assassination of female candidates intensifies across social media and online platforms. This trend of harassment and defamation is increasingly fueled by the misuse of deepfake technology and social media algorithms specifically designed to target women in politics.

These candidates are being subjected to allegations regarding their private lives, obscene gestures, gender-insensitive remarks and hateful rhetoric. The tactics are clear: turning a woman’s private life into a public spectacle, distorting old photos or videos to manufacture rumors of illicit relationships, and branding them with labels like ‘unfit’ or ‘immoral’. Such defamatory campaigns and the spread of misinformation do more than just hurt individuals. They pose a direct threat to the participation of women in the nation’s political future.

Despite being subjected to illegal and derogatory vitriol, many female candidates have refrained from filing formal police complaints. This lack of legal recourse has not only emboldened the perpetrators but has also fueled an escalating cycle of digital abuse against women in the political arena.

According to Superintendent of Police Deepak Awasthi, Information Officer at the Nepal Police Cyber Bureau, the bureau has yet to receive a single complaint from a female candidate regarding character assassination. He noted that the only cases currently being handled by the bureau are those related to election code of conduct violations forwarded by the Election Commission.

There is a disturbing trend on digital platforms where negative content targeting female candidates spreads virally almost instantly, while rebuttals or clarifications struggle to gain traction. Aliza Gautam points out that the complexities of the filing process make it difficult to pursue legal action. However, Binita Kathayat remains resolute in her quest for justice. Though currently occupied with voter outreach, she plans to hold her abusers accountable once the polls close. “Let them say what they will for now. I am documenting everything,” she says. “After the election, I will file a formal complaint with all the evidence I’ve collected.”

84 percent of female politicians victimized

The dissemination of negative content intended to influence elections does not target women exclusively. However, its impact falls disproportionately upon them. According to a 2022 study by the Purple Foundation, female politicians in Nepal are at an alarmingly high risk of cyber violence.

Among the women leaders surveyed, nearly 84 percent reported experiencing some form of online abuse. Within that group, over 60 percent stated they had faced sexualized commentary, obscene messaging, and content explicitly designed for character assassination. The report highlights that social media has become the primary medium for hurling insults, threats and disinformation at women in leadership.

The research further reveals that over 40 percent of female politicians have experienced the creation of fake profiles in their names used to spread misinformation. Approximately one-third of the respondents reported receiving threats that targeted their families and children. According to the report, such cyber-attacks do not just infringe upon their private lives. They directly impair their political activism and freedom of public expression.

Nearly 50 percent of the participants admitted that online violence makes them hesitant to speak at public events, while 28 percent have been forced to limit their overall use of social media. The study characterizes this cyber abuse as a systematic strategy designed to discourage women from participating in politics, a trend that data shows intensifies significantly during election cycles.

The report concludes that both the legal framework and its enforcement against cyber violence remain profoundly weak. A majority of the victims cited the complaint process as being overly complex and prohibitively time-consuming. To safeguard women in politics, the research recommends that the state and relevant stakeholders prioritize digital security training, establish rapid-response complaint mechanisms and ensure rigorous legal prosecution.

Neelam Sharma, Lead Researcher at the Purple Foundation, observes that violence against women is increasingly migrating into the digital sphere. “This is not a new phenomenon. Women have long endured such abuse,” she explains. “However, what we are witnessing now is its digital transformation.”

According to her, while policies and laws have been enacted, societal and familial mindsets remain stagnant. “A woman who asserts her political agency is still unpalatable to much of society,” Sharma notes. “There is still a fundamental resistance to accepting and embracing women in positions of political leadership.”

Lack of media literacy

The absence of media literacy, which empowers voters to distinguish between truth and falsehood, allows misinformation and character assassination to disproportionately harm women in politics. According to AI expert Ram Sharma Bhattarai, the surge in harassment and defamation, fueled by the misuse of deepfakes and social media algorithms, can manipulate voter perception and erode public trust during elections.

“Recently, AI has made character assassination incredibly easy,” Bhattarai adds. “Previously, expertise was limited, and creating manipulated photos, audio or video was a difficult task. Now, AI can generate them effortlessly. The challenges ahead are only going to intensify.”

He further notes that such malicious content is spreading rapidly across platforms like TikTok and Instagram. According to Bhattarai, the major issue lies in the fact that the headquarters of these social media giants often fail to understand the local context of Nepal. Furthermore, the absence of a dedicated social media regulatory body in the country significantly heightens the risks.

What does the law say?

For the House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5, the Election Commission has enforced the Election Code of Conduct, 2025, effective from midnight on January 18.

The code explicitly prohibits the dissemination of false, misleading or hateful information on social media. It strictly forbids activities aimed at influencing the election through defamation, propaganda, the spread of misinformation, insults or hate speech. Furthermore, the code specifies that producing, publishing or broadcasting content intended to assassinate character, hurl personal accusations or cause defamation is strictly prohibited.

Specifically, making obscene or derogatory remarks against female candidates constitutes a direct violation of this code. Complaints can be lodged through various channels, including written or verbal submissions, as well as via social media or other electronic platforms. These grievances can be submitted to the Commission, the Office of the Chief Election Officer, or the designated monitoring teams.

Those found in violation of the Code of Conduct face a fine of up to 100,000 rupees. If the offender is a candidate, the Commission reserves the authority to cancel their candidacy and initiate further legal action under the Election (Offence and Punishment) Act, 2016.

However, a persistent defiance of these regulations has resulted in hundreds of complaints flooding the Commission. According to Suman Ghimire, Information Officer at the Election Commission, 456 violations have been registered since the Code of Conduct came into effect.

The surge in cyber-attacks against female candidates is not merely a failure of election protocols, it is also a byproduct of the ineffective enforcement of existing cybercrime and defamation laws.

CPN-UML leader Ram Kumari Jhakri notes that the character assassination and stigmatization of female candidates during elections fundamentally undermine the core principles of democracy. She points out that women in Nepali society still face disproportionate challenges, as those on the campaign trail are often targeted with obscene and hateful rhetoric that directly tarnishes their reputation.

“The law lacks teeth and candidates often lack the time and resources to pursue complaints,” Jhakri says. “When legal mechanisms are ineffective, there is little incentive to report these crimes. Furthermore, the authorities responsible for enforcement have failed to play a proactive role.”

Action will be taken: Election Commission

According to Yagya Bhattarai, head of the Election Commission’s Legal and Political Party Division, only a handful of complaints regarding character assassination have been formally lodged. He emphasized that legal provisions are in place to prosecute those responsible for defamatory rhetoric. Individuals found violating the Code of Conduct will be required to provide a formal explanation. Should their response be deemed unsatisfactory, they will face strict disciplinary action.

The Commission’s Information Officer, Suman Ghimire, noted that the rise of AI and social media has significantly amplified online negativity. He added that the Commission is actively utilizing dedicated mechanisms to monitor and curb activities that breach the election code of conduct.

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