Young Nepalis register as voters and candidates for March 2026 elections following deadly protests that toppled the government and killed 76 people
KATHMANDU: Months after a deadly uprising, young Nepalis are lining up to register as voters and potential candidates in the election they helped bring about.
“We must have new faces in the election,” said Kishori Karki, a 25-year-old law graduate who is both a first-time voter and has applied to register a new party.
She is among the young Nepalis stepping forward in a political system long dominated by familiar, ageing faces.
Footage of Karki taking an injured demonstrator to hospital on a motorbike during the protests went viral nationwide.
The September 8-9 demonstrations were initially triggered by anger over a brief government ban on social media.
Protesters under the loose “Gen Z” umbrella spearheaded the movement that ultimately toppled the government.
Years of economic stagnation and entrenched corruption had primed the country of 30 million people for upheaval.
Karki says she wants to keep the movement’s spirit alive through political participation.
“It was important that we bring the people who were in the movement, who want to do something, under one umbrella,” she told AFP.
At least 76 people were killed during the demonstrations that saw parliament, courts and government offices torched.
Four-time prime minister KP Sharma Oli, 73, was ousted from power during the unrest.
Thousands of young activists then used Discord to nominate 73-year-old former chief justice Sushila Karki as their preferred interim leader.
Days later, she was appointed to steer the Himalayan nation until elections on March 5, 2026.
“If the very generation that led the protest which brought this government to power does not participate in the election it is now conducting, then how will the movement be truly institutionalised?” asked Uparjun Chamling.
The 25-year-old protest participant also intends to stand in the upcoming election.
“In the spirit of the Gen Z movement we need new faces,” he said. “But, more importantly, we need new thinking.”
Voter interest has surged dramatically, especially among young people seeing the election as a critical test.
“The protest sparked my interest in politics,” said Sabita Biswokarma, a 26-year-old student who queued to register before the November 21 deadline.
Nearly 675,000 new voters have already registered, with half using a new online system welcomed by young Nepalis.
“The online registration was encouraging,” added Biswokarma. “So to some extent, Gen Z demands are being heard.”
At the Election Commission, 123 parties have registered with 32 new parties under consideration.
The party registration deadline is November 26 for the March elections.
Many protest participants have been campaigning for voter registration and will continue awareness efforts.
However, most key Gen Z figures have yet to either join or open new political parties.
“People are expecting a new party from Gen Z,” said Kaushal Kafle, a journalist covering political developments.
“But when the protest began, this degree of change was not expected — so they were not prepared.”
Kafle said that while many new parties are emerging, some Gen Z leaders are backing candidates rather than running directly.
“It seems that most are anxious to take that step,” Kafle noted. “Their focus is to build a network across the country.”
Nepal’s political landscape remains volatile with deep public distrust in established parties.
But the political spark has been lit among previously disengaged citizens.
“I was never interested in politics,” said Sunita Tamang, 40, who registered to vote for the first time.
“But after this political change, I felt that I should exercise my voting rights to choose good leadership.” – AFP
