Nepal To Hold First Election Since Deadly Gen Z Protests, Pitting Young Reformers Against Veteran Politicians
KATHMANDU, Nepal — Nearly 19 million Nepalese voters are heading to the polls on March 5, 2026, for the country’s first parliamentary election since youth-led protests last year toppled the government and left dozens dead in the Himalayan nation’s worst violence in two decades .
The election for the 275-seat House of Representatives comes less than six months after the September 2025 uprising, which saw tens of thousands of young people take to the streets, parliament set ablaze, and then-Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli forced to resign . At least 77 people were killed and more than 2,000 wounded during two days of clashes between protesters and security forces .
Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki, who took office following the unrest, has urged citizens to vote “with confidence and without any fear,” emphasizing that the election must provide the country with “a way out” of its political turmoil . The vote will determine Nepal’s 16th prime minister in less than two decades, underscoring the chronic instability that has plagued the nation since the monarchy was abolished in 2008 .
The Gen Z Uprising: From Social Media Ban to Government Collapse
The protests that reshaped Nepal’s political landscape began in early September 2025, triggered by a government decision to ban more than two dozen social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and TikTok . Authorities claimed the platforms had failed to register under new regulations and were being used to spread hate speech and facilitate criminal activity .
For Nepal’s youth, already frustrated by chronic unemployment and rampant corruption, the ban was the “last straw,” according to Sareesha Shrestha, a protester who spoke to CNN at the time . The unemployment rate for those aged 15-24 stood at 20.8% in 2024, according to World Bank data, forcing hundreds of thousands of young Nepalis to seek work abroad . Remittances now account for more than a third of Nepal’s GDP .
What began as peaceful demonstrations organized on Discord, with protesters using VPNs to circumvent the ban, quickly escalated after police fired live ammunition on crowds attempting to enter parliament on September 8 . Over two days, protesters set fire to parliament, the Supreme Court, and government buildings, while security forces responded with water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets .
The violence drew international condemnation. United Nations human rights officials called for “rapid and transparent investigations” into allegations that security forces used “unnecessary or excessive force” . Veteran international jurist Surya Subedi later concluded that the force used “fell outside the standards of legitimacy, necessity and proportionality” .
On September 9, Oli resigned, and protesters, continuing to organize on Discord, proposed former chief justice Sushila Karki as interim prime minister—a nomination that was ultimately accepted . Karki, 72, became Nepal’s first female leader and has overseen preparations for the election .
Three-Way Race for Prime Minister
The election has narrowed to a three-way contest between a charismatic young reformer, a veteran communist seeking redemption, and a fresh face from Nepal’s oldest political party .
The Rapper Turned Politician
Balendra Shah, widely known as “Balen,” has emerged as the front-runner and symbol of youth-driven political change . The 35-year-old former Kathmandu mayor, who trained as a structural engineer before gaining fame as a rap artist using music to critique social issues and corruption, now leads the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) .
Dressed in his signature black attire and sunglasses, Shah has drawn massive crowds during campaign rallies across the country. His popularity stems from his tenure as Kathmandu mayor, where he won as an independent in 2022 by riding a wave of public anger toward traditional parties . He earned praise for clearing illegal vendors, tackling the capital’s chronic garbage problem, and pushing road expansions, though he also faced criticism for ordering demolitions without adequate planning .
“Our agenda is that the poor people who have no money in their pockets should get a full education. The poor people with empty pockets should get access to health facilities,” Shah told supporters in western Nepal last week .
Shah is contesting directly against Oli in the eastern Jhapa-5 constituency, a key battleground where the two represent the stark choice between generational change and political experience .
The Veteran Seeking Redemption
Khadga Prasad Oli, 74, the four-time prime minister who was ousted during the protests, is seeking to return to power as head of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) . Despite being blamed by many for the violent crackdown on protesters, Oli retains strong support within his party and among older voters who value stability .
During a campaign stop in Jhapa, Oli loyalist Hima Karki, 66, told AFP: “KP Oli is a need of this nation. He is the saviour of the nation, and his victory from here is certain” .
Oli’s popularity previously peaked when he stood up to an Indian economic blockade in 2015 that caused severe shortages of fuel and medicine . He argues that steady policies are essential for Nepal’s development, warning that the economy needs stability to progress .
However, he faces an uphill battle winning back young voters who ousted him barely six months ago. Chhabi Khatiwoda, 33, a Jhapa resident who has switched allegiance from Oli to Shah, told AFP: “Only the youth can bring change. It is high time we all became politically aware and work for new Nepal” .
The New Face of an Old Party
Gagan Thapa, 49, represents the centrist Nepali Congress, the country’s oldest major political party with historically close ties to India . Long seen as a popular figure within the party, Thapa had been held back by senior leadership until earlier this year, when he mounted a rebellion and secured his election as party chief .
The Nepali Congress was part of the coalition government forced out by last year’s protests, but Thapa has sought to position himself as a reformer. He promises to rid Nepal of corruption within five years and make the government fully accountable to the public .
Thapa’s challenge will be overcoming voter anger at his party’s association with the previous administration while differentiating himself from both Oli’s communist legacy and Shah’s untested radicalism.
A fourth contender, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, 71, the former Maoist insurgent leader and three-time prime minister who now leads the Nepali Communist Party, is also in the race but is considered a longer shot .
Election Mechanics and Security
Nearly 19 million voters have registered for the election, including approximately 800,000 first-time participants, many of whom were energized by the protests . Of the 275 seats in the House of Representatives, 165 will be decided by direct voting, where the candidate with the most votes wins, while 110 will be filled through proportional representation based on each party’s vote share .
A total of 65 political parties are contesting the election, with more than 3,400 candidates competing in direct constituencies . Notably, 30% of candidates are aged under 40, reflecting the protest movement’s impact on political participation .
The Election Commission has deployed approximately 300,000 security personnel, including police and temporary election officers, to ensure calm during voting . More than 60 trucks and helicopters for remote snowbound mountain regions have transported election materials across the rugged Himalayan terrain .
Election Commission official Suman Ghimire told AFP that the body was in its “final stage of election preparation,” with support from neighboring countries including China and Japan, which provided economic assistance, and India, which donated 86 pickup vans “to transport election materials” .
Geopolitical Stakes
Nepal’s location sandwiched between Asian giants India and China gives the election significant regional implications . Both neighbors have shown keen interest in influencing the smaller nation, which borders Tibet and sits along critical trade routes.
The Nepali Congress party, led by Thapa, has traditionally maintained close ties with New Delhi and is viewed skeptically by Beijing . Oli’s communist groups are seen as more friendly to China, though relations soured after Oli made overtures to India before his ouster .
Shah presents an uncertain quantity diplomatically. As Kathmandu mayor, he once displayed a map of “Greater Nepal” that includes Indian territory in his office and led efforts to ban some Indian films, but also declined a visit to China after Beijing ignored Nepali sensitivities while updating its national map . His “business-like” approach could allow pragmatic engagement with both neighbors, but regional powers seeking exclusive relationships may complicate such balancing .
The United States is also watching closely. Samir Paul Kapur, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, recently told a congressional subcommittee that Washington seeks “to prevent China or any single hegemon from taking over or imposing coercive leverage on the region” .
Voters’ Hopes and Fears
For ordinary Nepalis, the election represents both hope and uncertainty. Kritika Mishra, 23, a prospective voter in the southern Sarlahi district, told The Hindu that “an election atmosphere is taking shape” with candidates “actively campaigning” .
But concerns remain about whether genuine change will follow. International jurist Surya Subedi warned that “many young people died, and their blood was spilled,” asking pointedly: “What is the result of that sacrifice? Is it just a mid-term election? I fear we are just returning to the same old state” .
Subedi emphasized that a “free and fair election is key to restoring Nepal’s international reputation” after the damage caused by corruption and the violent uprising .
The Election Commission has expressed confidence in the process despite concerns about weather conditions in high-altitude areas, where snow may complicate voting. The election is being held unusually early in the year due to the accelerated schedule necessitated by the September unrest .
As Nepal prepares to vote, the words of interim Prime Minister Karki resonate: “This election is being conducted in a special condition. This has to give the country a way out” .
The results, expected in the days following the March 5 vote, will determine whether Nepal’s Gen Z protesters achieved lasting change or whether the political establishment they rose up against manages to reassert control.
With inputs from
Nepal News: Everything about March 5 election
BBC: Nepal election 2026 candidates
Kathmandu Post: Nepali Congress election commitment
For broader context, see our in-depth analysis on The Architecture of Power: Global Political Systems, Democracy, Authoritarianism & Governance Models.
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