Nepal’s vote tests the old political order

 It has been 20 years since Nepal overthrew its monarchy and charted its course in parliamentary democracy. However, the end of monarchy was not the end of Nepal’s woes. These twenty years have been tumultuous, to say the least. The political establishment that took over has not lived upto the expectations of the people. The governments were mostly keen to secure their place and survive rather than to deliver on the development of the country. Corruption, coalitions and internal feuds have defined the parliamentary democracy for all these years. Power alternated mainly among the Nepali Congress and various communist factions, including the CPN-UML and the Maoist Centre, often through fragile coalition governments, but not much changed for the people.

Unemployment and corruption grew, as did the frustration amongst the youth, who finally came on the streets in September last year to protest and changed Nepal politics forever.  The elections underway in Nepal are no ordinary elections, it is going to be a litmus test for the old political establishment and also people’s view of the Gen Z uprising. With nearly 19 million voters deciding the 275-member

House of Representatives, the election has become a referendum on whether Nepal’s long-dominant political class can regain legitimacy or whether a new generation will reshape the country’s political trajectory. Political instability has marked the democracy and allegations of corruption have eroded public trust. 

This election, therefore, marks a turning point. The most visible sign of change is the emergence of younger candidates and unconventional political figures who have captured the imagination of Nepal’s urban youth. Among them is Balendra Shah, the rapper-turned-politician and former mayor of Kathmandu, who has positioned himself as a symbol of generational change. His challenge to veteran Marxist leader and former prime minister KP Sharma Oli in Jhapa district has become one of the most closely watched contests of the election. At the same time, established parties have attempted to adapt to the new political mood.

The Nepali Congress, one of the country’s oldest parties, has chosen the relatively younger Gagan Thapa as its leader, signalling a cautious attempt at renewal. Traditional leaders are emphasising experience and stability, arguing that governance requires institutional knowledge rather than political experimentation. Structural realities of Nepal’s electoral system make a dramatic political overhaul unlikely. The mixed system of first-past-the-post and proportional representation often produces fragmented results and may lead to yet another coalition government. Nevertheless, the politics of Nepal have changed for sure. The Gen Z uprising has set the agenda—one centred on accountability, transparency, and economic opportunity. Whether led by veterans such as Oli or younger leaders like Thapa — or influenced by new voices such as Shah —Nepal’s next government will face a restless and politically awakened generation.