KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 29 Gen Z leaders have described Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra (Balen) Shah and Rastriya Swatantrata Party Chair Rabi Lamichhane's seven-point agreement as both attractive and high-risk. According to Gen Z leader Pradeep Gyawali, Shah's strength is in independent executive action, whereas Lamichhane operates within party and parliamentary politics.'Merging these two models without careful design could weaken both instead of strengthening alternative politics,' he told THT. Amit Khanal (Urjaa), a Gen Z leader, also stated that the Shah-Lamichhane merger naturally draws attention. Many citizens regard them as alternatives to traditional political elites and figures who attempt to challenge the status quo. That feeling is understandable. 'However, the core issue is not personalities but the direction Nepal's democracy will take. A merger should not be about concentrating public hope and political power in a few charismatic individuals,' he told THT. 'Nepal's real crisis lies in fragile institutions, poor accountability and a political culture that often replaces rules with personal influence. If a merger deepens this tendency, it could weaken democracy rather than strengthen it.' He also emphasised that if Shah and Lamichhane collaborated in a way that promotes institutional reform, transparency, internal democracy and tolerance of criticism, it could benefit Nepal's political evolution. 'But if their alliance turns into a personality-driven project where dissent is dismissed and power becomes centralised, it risks reproducing the very problems people are trying to escape,' he argued. According to him, Nepal does not need political 'saviours', instead, it needs leaders who are accountable to citizens, bound by systems, and willing to constrain their own power. 'Any merger should therefore be evaluated not by popularity or emotional appeal, but by whether it strengthens democratic institutions, protects civil liberties, and ensures that power in Nepal remains accountable and reversible,' he added. Aditya Karn, a Gen Z leader, sees the Shah-Lamichhane collaboration as a positive and timely move. 'Bringing together alternative political forces that share similar values and reform-orientated ideologies strengthens the possibility of real change,' he said. 'However, this alliance should not be limited to electoral convenience alone; it needs to be sustained beyond the elections to build a credible longterm political alternative.' He expressed hope that they remain firmly rooted in the moral principles, integrity and public trust that brought them to prominence in the first place rather than gradually becoming what they have consistently opposed. 'A merger may look attractive electorally, but without a clear vision, internal democracy and defined leadership structure, it risks becoming a personality-driven alliance rather than a reformist force.' Purushotam Yadav, a Gen Z leader, on the other hand, described the agreement positively and in favour of federalism and constitutionalism. 'The Gen Z group, which includes Rakshya Bam, Sudan Gurung, me and others, has interpreted the agreement as positive progress in favour of constitutionalism and federalism,' he told THT. He also stated that Shah has essentially endorsed RSP, a party that directly addresses the issue of marginalisation and exclusion. 'We have already started selection of the provincial coordinators and representatives. So, we must not be duped by simple conversations. A press conference will be held soon to answer all of the questions.'