KATHMANDU — Political parties and candidates across Nepal launched campaign activities on Feb 16 ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for March, the first national vote since deadly anti-corruption protests toppled the previous government in 2025.
“This election will draw the future of the country,” interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki said before campaigning began for the March 5 polls.
The youth-led uprising was initially sparked by a brief social media ban but quickly expanded into broader protests driven by frustration over economic stagnation and an ageing political elite seen as disconnected from public concerns.
Over two days of unrest in September, 77 people were killed, scores injured, and hundreds of buildings set ablaze — including parliament, courts, and a Hilton hotel. The violence led to the ouster of 73-year-old Marxist leader K. P. Sharma Oli, marking the country’s worst turmoil since the civil war ended in 2006.
Youth Challengers Face Political Veterans
The two-week campaign period is expected to highlight a generational contest, with younger candidates promising sweeping change while veteran politicians emphasize stability and experience.
One of the most closely watched races will pit rapper-turned-mayor Balendra Shah, widely known as Balen, against Oli in the former prime minister’s constituency. Shah, 35, has emerged as a symbol of youth-driven political change and is contesting under the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), the fourth-largest party in the last parliament.
Also competing is the Nepali Congress, the country’s oldest political party, now led by 49-year-old Gagan Thapa, who took charge after the uprising reshaped the political landscape.
At the other end of the political spectrum, supporters of former monarch Gyanendra Shah, deposed in 2008 after the end of Nepal’s 240-year monarchy, are also mobilizing. The royalist Rastriya Prajatantra Party recently rallied thousands in Kathmandu as the ex-king greeted supporters from his vehicle.
Millions Set to Vote in High-Stakes Poll
Nearly 19 million voters have registered, including about 800,000 first-time participants. They will elect members to the 275-seat House of Representatives, with 165 lawmakers chosen through direct voting and 110 via proportional representation.
More than 3,400 candidates are contesting direct seats, with around 30 percent under the age of 40. Campaign banners and rallies are already appearing nationwide as candidates seek to win over voters.
“This election is being conducted in a special condition,” Karki said while overseeing preparations. “This has to give the country a way out.”
Nepal’s Election Commission says it is prepared to hold the vote despite concerns that snowfall could isolate high-altitude regions. The early-year election timetable was accelerated following September’s unrest.
Authorities have deployed around 300,000 security personnel and temporary election police to maintain order during the campaign and voting period.
