Nepal's youth want "New faces on ballot papers, in parliament"

Kathmandu [Nepal], November 7 (ANI): With four months remaining for Nepal to head to the polls ending the transition that was put in place after violent riots led to the stepping down on KP Oli as PM, youth of the Himalayan nation want "new faces on the ballot papers and in the parliament.

After the Gen-Z uprising of September 8 and 9 which brought the wave of change in the Himalayan Nation buffered between India and China, the nation is looking for a safe-landing through the election.

"I expect a fair and democratic leader from the upcoming election. I hope that the outcome of the election would be a positive one, I hope that we see new voices that can represent our own- the Gen-Z voices and people who can understand Gen-Z and the country as a whole, that they would support and keep the citizens first instead of their own personal gains," Akanshya Dhakal a university level student from Kathmandu told ANI.

The young population was the candidates in the election to present a clear vision for the future of the country, something they say the older political satraps failed to deliver.

"We can see from the past that the candidates have not done their home works. They're saying the things that defy the logic. About the expectations after the Gen-Z revolution, I expect the candidate to be more precise and accurate when articulating their vision and I expect citizen to vote on basis of their vision, rather than having the worshipping culture," Avash Subedi, a student and activist told ANI.

Having seen the pitfalls of a government steeped in corruption, the youth hope for clean governance which is more inclusive.

"Before the Gen-Z revolution we have seen the government, it was kind of authoritarian and was not inclusive up to the way where it could be and it was a bit less supportive towards its' people. After the election and this Gen-Z revolution I would expect my government to be more inclusive and have strong institutions and supportive towards the public," Avash Subedi said.

With Parliament already dissolved and elections called for next year in March, Nepal is traversing through a bumpy road towards hope of stability. Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki has recommended to conduct the election on March 5, 2026.

The youth who had been the driving force to bring the wave of changes want the new force to drive the nation to the path of stability.

"Adding the context about Gen-Z protest with it (the election) it was about the leaders who were already leading (the country) since past. I believe that the youths are supposed to lead the upcoming election by adding their own party into the election (fray). If they're able to do so then we will be able to see the new faces otherwise we will see the same face again and again," Khushi Joshi, another graduation level student told ANI.

"I am hopeful that the new Gen-Z parties will be evolving into the politics then we will be seeing our Nepal marching towards a better future," Joshi added.

On September 8, a total of 21 protestors especially students had lost their lives. The following day 39 people died out of which 15 had died of burns. The remaining 14 deaths were recorded after tenth day following the violence.

The postmortem report of those killed in police firing in Kathmandu Valley states death due to bullet injuries on head and chest. During the protest police are only allowed to fire on the protestors below the knee to control the situation. (ANI)

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