Nepal Votes To Elect New Government Today, First Since Gen-Z Protests

Nepal is voting today to elect a new government in the first national election since last year’s Gen-Z-led protests. Those protests toppled the previous administration and left at least 77 people dead. The vote will replace the interim government led by Sushila Karki, which has been governing the Himalayan nation since the political upheaval. Authorities have urged citizens to vote peacefully and without fear as polling takes place across the country.

The election is widely seen as a crucial test for Nepal’s long-established political leaders. Veteran figures such as Sher Bahadur Deuba of the Nepali Congress, KP Sharma Oli of the Communist Party of Nepal-UML, and Pushpa Kamal Dahal of the Maoist Centre are again competing for power. However, public frustration with traditional leadership has grown after years of political instability and economic concerns. The dissatisfaction triggered the large youth-led protests last year and now poses a major challenge for these senior politicians.

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Nepal Election seen as major test for traditional leaders

At the same time, several younger leaders have emerged as strong contenders. Among them is Rabi Lamichhane of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, a former media personality who has gained significant support among young voters. Another influential figure is Balendra Shah, the 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician and former mayor of Kathmandu. Shah has positioned himself as a symbol of generational change in Nepal’s politics. Meanwhile, Gagan Thapa, the new leader of the Nepali Congress, is contesting from the Sarlahi-4 constituency in southern Nepal.

Voters will elect 275 members of the House of Representatives, the lower house of parliament. Of these, 165 seats will be decided through the first-past-the-post system, while 110 seats will be allocated through proportional representation. Election authorities have completed preparations, including transporting materials to remote mountainous regions. Final results may take several days, and coalition negotiations could delay the formation of a new government.

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