Nepal, a country that has alternated between monarchy and democracy before becoming a federal republic, now finds itself at another critical political moment. On Thursday, nearly 19 million registered voters will head to the polls to elect a new House of Representatives in an election shaped not just by traditional party competition but by the impact of a powerful youth-led uprising that toppled a government and shook the political establishment.
The vote is taking place only three years after the last national election and months after dramatic street protests forced then–Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign and flee chaotic scenes in Kathmandu with his family. In a nation that has witnessed 15 governments in the past two decades, political instability is not unusual. However, the latest upheaval carries a distinctly generational character.
Nepal’s mixed electoral system, introduced under the 2015 Constitution, will once again be put to the test.
A youth-driven uprising
The protests that erupted in September 2025 were not triggered by a single scandal but by years of simmering frustration among young Nepalis. Many had grown disillusioned with entrenched political dynasties, rising unemployment and limited opportunities within the country.
Youth unemployment stands at 20.6%, and nearly three million Nepalis work abroad, mainly in Gulf countries, sending remittances that sustain the national economy.
What ignited widespread anger, however, was the visible display of wealth by children of political elites on social media. Posts showing designer gifts, luxury vacations in places like Thailand and Switzerland, and extravagant weddings that blocked city streets sparked outrage among young citizens struggling to find work.
“The kids of big politicians celebrate special occasions in places like Thailand and Switzerland,” said Satish Kumar Yadav, a 25-year-old lab technician. “But children of the general public are forced to go to Gulf countries to find jobs.”
Tensions escalated further when the government proposed banning social media platforms—the very spaces where young Nepalis had been voicing their anger at so-called “nepo kids”. On September 8, thousands of protesters took to the streets. Within two days, 77 people were dead, many of them demonstrators shot by police. The prime minister stepped down soon after.
An interim government and a historic moment
Following Oli’s departure, former Supreme Court chief justice Sushila Karki was appointed interim prime minister, becoming the first woman to hold the position in Nepal’s history.
Her brief tenure was intended to stabilise the country and guide it toward fresh elections. Karki assumed office at a time when the political system remained fragile and the electorate—particularly Gen Z activists who had driven the protests—was restless and demanding change.
With the election campaign now over, Nepal has entered the legally mandated silence period. Campaign materials have been removed from areas within 300 metres of polling stations, and political rallies have ceased.
Kathmandu empties as voters return home
In Kathmandu’s Koteshwor Bus Park this week, the atmosphere resembled a festive migration as thousands of voters boarded buses heading to their home districts.
Traffic police say more than 300,000 people have already left the capital to vote, with the number expected to double before polling day.
For many, the journey carries symbolic weight.
“The country has gone through a very difficult time,” said Bidur, a voter preparing to travel. “We have seen how the old parties performed, and they did very badly. I will vote for the party that can truly work for the country’s future.”
Nearby, another voter, Raju Chaulagain, expressed a similar hope. “We need leaders who can create jobs here so citizens don’t have to go abroad to earn a living,” he said.
The numbers behind the election
Nearly 18.9 million voters are registered for the election. Among them are about 966,000 men, 924,000 women and around 200 individuals registered under the “others” category, which includes people who do not identify as male or female as well as members of the LGBTQ+ community.
The voter list has grown by nearly one million since the 2022 election, a surge widely linked to the political awakening triggered by the protests.
Nepal’s House of Representatives has 275 seats. Of these, 165 members are elected directly through the first-past-the-post system across constituencies, while the remaining 110 seats are allocated proportionally based on nationwide party vote share.
Voters cast two ballots: one for a constituency candidate and another for a political party.
The ballot itself is crowded. A total of 136 political parties are registered, many formed after the September protests. Of these, 68 parties have fielded candidates in direct contests and 63 have submitted proportional representation lists.
In total, 3,406 candidates are contesting the 165 direct seats, including 2,263 party nominees and 1,143 independents.
Old parties face new pressure
For decades, Nepal’s politics has been dominated by the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist). Both parties were part of the government that collapsed during last year’s protests and now face growing scepticism from younger voters.
Despite the backlash, their organisational strength and regional influence remain significant.
Former prime minister Oli, for instance, continues to wield influence in his constituency of Jhapa-5, located about 300 kilometres southeast of Kathmandu.
The rise of Balen
One of the most closely watched contests in this election is unfolding in Jhapa-5, where Oli faces 35-year-old Balendra Shah, widely known as Balen.
A former rapper who rose to fame in 2013, Balen shocked Nepal’s political establishment by winning the Kathmandu mayoral election as an independent in 2022.
During the September 2025 protests, he emerged as a prominent supporter of demonstrators. Many activists even suggested him as an interim leader after Oli’s resignation.
Instead, Balen backed Sushila Karki for the role—a move now seen as a calculated decision.
Now contesting under the banner of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), a centrist party formed in 2022, Balen represents a new generation of leadership.
At a recent rally, he removed his trademark rectangular sunglasses, looked into the crowd and declared: “I love you.”
For many young voters, his candidacy symbolises a broader generational shift. Nepal’s population is overwhelmingly young—over 40% are under 35—while leadership in traditional parties is often decades older.
Social media and changing public optics
The protests have also reshaped how elite families present themselves online.
Several social media accounts belonging to relatives of prominent politicians have gone silent or private following criticism over displays of wealth.
Former Miss Nepal Shrinkhala Khatiwada, daughter of a former health minister, appears to have deleted her Instagram account. Smita Dahal, granddaughter of a three-time prime minister, made her account private after backlash over posts featuring luxury handbags.
These changes suggest a growing awareness that public perception has shifted in Nepal’s digital age.
A nation searching for stability
Nepal’s federal parliament is bicameral, with a 59-member National Assembly as the upper house and the 275-seat House of Representatives as the lower house.
Even if one party performs strongly, coalition governments remain likely. Political instability remains a persistent concern, with the country having seen 15 governments in 20 years.
As voters head to polling stations across mountains, villages and cities, they face a fundamental question: who can deliver stability while responding to demands for change?
A generational turning point
The September 2025 uprising has become the defining narrative of this election. It revealed the political power of Nepal’s younger generation—one that organised through social media and demanded accountability from leaders.
Young voters now seek jobs at home, transparent governance and leaders who represent merit rather than inheritance.
Whether these demands reshape parliament remains uncertain. Established parties still command strong support in many regions, while new parties must transform enthusiasm into lasting organisation.
Yet one outcome is already clear: Nepal’s youth have discovered their collective influence.
They have forced a prime minister from office, helped bring the country’s first female interim leader to power and injected new urgency into Nepal’s political system.
As millions mark their ballots on Thursday, the result will determine not only who occupies the 275 seats in parliament, but also whether a generation’s anger can evolve into lasting political change.
