Nepal goes to polls in first election since Gen Z protests
Guwahati: Voters across Nepal began streaming into polling stations on Thursday morning to cast their ballots in a watershed general election, first since the Gen Z-led uprising that toppled the government of former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli last year.
Polling for all 165 constituencies commenced at 7 a.m. and is scheduled to conclude at 5 p.m. The Election Commission has confirmed that the counting of votes will begin immediately after ballot boxes are secured.
The elections are being held two years ahead of schedule, a direct consequence of the "Gen Z" protests in September 2025. The youth demonstrations—sparked by deep-seated resentment over corruption, systemic patronage, and a perceived disconnect between the ageing political elite and the aspirations of the youth, effectively reset the country's political calendar.
More than 18.9 million eligible voters are expected to decide the fate of the 275-seat House of Representatives. According to official data, 3,406 candidates are contesting the 165 first-past-the-post seats, while another 3,135 are vying for the 110 seats reserved under the proportional representation system.
To prevent a repeat of last year's volatility, authorities have enforced an unprecedented security blanket. Over 300,000 personnel, including the Nepal Army, have been deployed under an integrated national security plan. Acting Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari noted that all logistical preparations were completed on schedule, urging citizens to participate in what is being termed a "reclamation of democracy."
Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki, the 73-year-old former Chief Justice, who emerged from retirement to steer the nation through the transition, has issued a final appeal for a peaceful mandate.
"Every vote is a brick in the foundation of our future," Karki said in a statement, expressing gratitude to the citizenry for maintaining order during the campaign period.
This election is viewed as a definitive crossroads for the Himalayan nation. For many, the hope is that the ballot box will finally address the demands of the youth-led protest movement—structural economic reforms, transparent governance, and an end to the chronic instability.