Millions of Nepalis have participated in the country’s first general election since violent youth-led protests toppled the government last September. The election, which took place on 5 March, marks a key moment for Nepal, where corruption, economic stagnation, and inequality were the central issues. These problems sparked a wave of protests that left 77 people dead, many of them protesters shot by police.

Impact on Youth and Governance

The election represents a crossroads for Nepal, pitting the establishment against a new generation of politicians who are advocating for the country’s Gen Z voters, many of whom are demanding change. The country’s mountainous terrain has made the counting process slow and difficult, with ballots tallied by hand. The counting of votes for the 275 seats in the House of Representatives is expected to take several days, with results not expected before next week.

Nearly 19 million people, including almost a million first-time voters, were registered to take part in the election. Voting was largely peaceful, with a significant security presence across the country. Leading candidates include KP Sharma Oli, the prime minister who was ousted in the protests, and Balen Shah, a former rapper who resigned as Kathmandu mayor in January to run in the Jhapa 5 seat, one of the key races.

Political Dynamics and Voter Sentiment

For Oli, the election will be a major test. He and his party, the Communist Party of Nepal UML, have insisted the protests were not a referendum on his leadership and that he remains popular with the public. He told the BBC he is confident he will win the election. Meanwhile, Gagan Thapa, the leader of the Nepali Congress, believes younger voters are tired of ‘unholy alliances’ and ‘poor governance’ in previous coalitions and that his party is listening to Gen Z voters.

Balen Shah, who is representing the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), refused to speak directly to the press on Thursday, maintaining his usual style of appearing in his signature black sunglasses and storming through a crowd of journalists. This behavior has raised concerns among Nepal’s media about how he would govern if he were to win. However, many young voters believe his youth and energy are exactly what the country needs and that he represents a new chapter in Nepal’s future.

Rakshya Bam, one of Nepal’s Gen Z leaders, was largely unimpressed with the political parties’ approach. She told the BBC that none of the parties had incorporated the pact signed between the government and the Gen Z movement into their election manifestos. ‘They want to sell the name of Gen Z and come into power so they are using the term Gen Z movement… I don’t have much expectations from the elections,’ she said.

Ispa Sapkota, who cast her ballot in Kathmandu, said she protested in September to ‘end corruption’ and to restore ‘political stability’ in Nepal. ‘We want a better nation,’ she said. ‘When I and others search for jobs, we’re not able to get any here. Brain drain is becoming the most important problem in our country.’

Election Structure and Future Implications

If Balen Shah wins, it would represent a seismic shift from the governance that has paralysed Nepal for over three decades. The country has seen a revolving door of coalition governments, largely dominated by three parties, two of them communist. This election will test whether Gen Z voters have succeeded in convincing the rest of the country that it is time for a new, untried generation to shape their future or whether veteran politicians will keep hold of power.

Of the 275 seats in the lower house, 165 will be elected through first-past-the-post voting, meaning the candidate with the most votes wins the seat. The other 110 MPs will be selected via proportional representation, which takes into account the proportion of votes cast for a political party.

The election commission has promised to finish counting by 9 March and to release the results of the 165 directly elected seats within 24 hours from when counting starts. However, the process of collecting ballot boxes from across the mountainous country and delivering them to count centres typically takes at least a day. Officials said it could take another two to three days to tally the results of the proportional representation vote.

A new government, formed on the basis of the seats won by political parties, will have a responsibility to lead the reforms and address issues like corruption and good governance. Samikshya KC, who voted in Kathmandu, chose not to participate in the protests but said she supported the Gen Z movement. ‘Nepal is becoming very corrupt,’ she told the BBC. ‘I’m hoping for a big change.’

She wants the next government to develop all of Nepal, and not just the capital. ‘There are so many remote places in our country; let there be some progress there too. Whatever happens, let it be good.’