However, political parties were banned at the time, and the main underground opposition forces (the Nepali Congress and various communist groups) called for a boycott of the election.
[7] Virtually all candidates campaigned on slogans such as "God and Motherhood", portraying themselves as opponents of corruption and inflation.
Most candidates relied heavily on door-to-door campaigning and canvassing through family, caste and ethnic networks.
[6] The incumbent prime minister, Surya Bahadur Thapa, contested and was elected from the Dhankuta district.
In Morang district the royal house and the prime minister supported opposing candidates, eventually resulting in the defeat for both.
[10] independent supporters of reintroducing parliamentary democracy who were elected were Arjun Narsingh K.C., Prakash Chandra Lohani and Shribhadra Sharma.
[10] Whilst the Nepali Congress leadership had called for boycott, the dissident fraction led by Bakhan Singh Gurung had launched 36 candidates.
The pro-Soviet Communist Party led by Keshar Jung Rayamajhi had launched over 45-50 candidates, but none got elected.
[8][10] Some independent leftwing candidates were elected, such as Govinda Nath Upreti (Kavre), Rup Chandra Bista (Makwanpur) and Karna Bahadur Hyuju (Bhaktapur).
[10] Dahal, a relatively unknown person in Nepalese politics at the time, swept the Kathmandu district polls.