Nepal votes in first polls after Gen Z stir: Top contenders and what's at stake?
India Today
Nepal, which witnessed Gen Z protests that led to the ouster of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's government six months ago, is voting in a crucial election that will determine the future of the Himalayan nation's fragile democracy. Read on to know who are the top contenders and what's at stake.
Nepal is voting in a high-stakes general election on Thursday — the first since a Gen Z-led movement toppled the government of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in September last year. A total of 3,406 candidates are contesting for the 275-member House of Representatives.
The election, widely seen as a referendum on Nepal’s old guard, will determine whether the Gen Z uprising translates into lasting political transformation — or whether established leaders reclaim their dominance in the Himalayan nation’s fragile democracy.
The general election comes six months after two days of intense Gen Z-led protests on September 8 and 9, 2025, forced Oli, the chair of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), or CPN-UML, from power. The protests left 77 people dead and more than 2,000 injured.
Following the unrest, President Ramchandra Paudel dissolved the House and appointed former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as caretaker Prime Minister. Karki is the first woman to serve as Prime Minister.
One of the key contenders is Balendra Shah (35), a rapper-turned-politician and a former Kathmandu mayor. Shah — popularly known as Balen — is contesting on behalf of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). He has positioned himself as the face of generational change and anti-corruption politics. Shah is contesting from Jhapa-5, directly challenging Oli, who is also fighting from this seat.
Oli (74), a four-time Prime Minister, is seeking a comeback but faces resistance from younger voters who ousted him six months ago. Oli, who sparked tensions with India due to his pro-China approach in the past, has been a liberal communist since the 1990s.
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