KATHMANDU, DECEMBER 31
The year 2025 belonged to Gen Z in Nepal, as they propelled unprecedented political change in just 48 hours of rebellion in early September.
On September 8, tens of thousands of youth (Gen Z) flooded the streets of Kathmandu, and on September 9, they stormed across the country.
What began as a beautiful dance and sloganeering against chronic corruption, as well as a blanket ban on 26 social media apps, turned deadly in the afternoon of September 8, when 19 youths, including those in school and college uniforms, were shot at point-blank range in front of the Parliament building in Baneshwor.
The country was ravaged on September 8 as a result of the killings of innocent youth, which sparked a nationwide protest, attack and arson on several government institutions, including Singha Durbar (the government executive secretariat), the Parliament building and leaders' homes. Enraged youth also assaulted the leaders of legacy parties.
By the afternoon, then-prime minister KP Sharma Oli was forced to flee in a helicopter under army protection, as were several other ministers and leaders.
The country was headless for nearly four days. However, on September 12, the interim government was formed, led by Sushila Karki, Nepal's first female chief justice, who has since become the country's first female prime minister. At 73 years old, she has made history twice: first as Nepal's first female chief justice and now as the country's first female prime minister.
For the first time in decades of Nepali politics, a new name emerged as the country's leader until the next general election. A new election date for the House of Representatives has been set for March 5.
People have found new hope in the interim government and the government that will be formed after the upcoming elections. All credit goes to the Gen Z youth who sacrificed their lives for momentous shifts. Following the protests and formation of the interim government, several corruption files have been opened, as claimed by Government Spokesperson and Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Jagdish Kharel.
In a programme here, Minister Kharel revealed that in just two months of the formation of the government, over 25 files of corruption cases have been forwarded for future legal redressal. "Corruption cases involving five former ministers have been furthered, which also convict several other big fish," he said.
As per several reports, such instances were not possible prior to the Gen Z revolution, as coalition governments were changed and formed to save each other from scandals.
QUAlIFIED AND INClUSIVE CABINET
While previous governments were often accused of exclusion and being ill-qualified, the Karki Cabinet includes ministers with academic backgrounds in law, health, engineering, public administration, education and other fields, making it as competent, qualified and inclusive as it always should have been, as people expected. The Cabinet includes ministers from all community groups, including Dalits, Madhesis, indigenous people, women and Khas Arya.
Prime Minister Karki is a former chief justice. Minister of Finance Rameshore Khanal has an MBA degree and is a former finance secretary. Kulman Ghising, minister for energy, is an engineer and former director of the Nepal Electricity Authority. Om Prakash Aryal, minister for home affairs, holds a master's degree in law. Anil Kumar Sinha, minister for law, justice and parliamentary affairs, is a former Supreme Court justice.
Similarly, Mahabir Pun, minister of education, has a master's degree in educational administration, won the Magsaysay Award, and founded the National Innovation Centre. Madan Prasad Pariyar, minister for agriculture and livestock, holds a PhD in engineering.
Minister for Communication and Information Technology Kharel is currently pursuing an MPhil-PhD, while Bablu Gupta, minister for youth and sports, is studying public health. Dr Sudha Sharma Gautam, minister of health and population, is a former health secretary and OB-GYN specialist. Dr Kumar Ingam, minister for land management and cooperatives, is an advocate and former head of the Kathmandu School of Law campus. Rajendra Singh Bhandari, minister for labour, employment and social security, has done an MPA and is the former Additional Inspector General of Nepal Police. Madhav Prasad Chaulagain, minister for forests and environment, has done a master's in rural development.
Shradha Shrestha, minister for women, children, and senior citizens, is former senior manager at the Tourism Marketing and Promotion Department of the Nepal Tourism Board, while Bala Nand Sharma, minister for foreign affairs, holds a master's in history and is the coordinator of the Secretariat of the Special Committee for Army Integration.
VOTER ID THROUGH NID
Nepal saw an extraordinary surge in civic participation; a total of 492,180 new voters (the majority) registered using their NID details. Behind this sudden momentum was a coordinated effort between young civic actors and government offices, driven by a shared urgency to make voter registration simpler, faster and more inclusive.
This was impossible to imagine during the previous government. Only 344,914 voters registered through the traditional physical biometric process in almost a month. Many lauded the step, as it was never done in the past, depriving people of their constitutional rights.
Moreover, the talks of voting rights of Nepalis abroad have also been progressing. However, it is yet to be confirmed. Gen Z leaders, experts and government officials are working round-the-clock to make it possible.
RISE OF ALTERNATIVE FORCES
The protest propelled the rise of alternative forces exponentially. Three of the most emerging alternative leaders, including Balendra (Balen) Shah, Rabi Lamichhane and Kulman Ghising, came together to fight against legacy parties. After decades of politics, Nepalis have a better alternative option if legacy parties still fail to correct their course.
Political analysts have also commented that the move of alternative forces coming together is good for the health of democracy.
The protest has also brought youth to the centre of politics in Nepal. The majority of the Gen Z leaders and several aspiring youths have joined the alternative forces and are planning to contest upcoming elections. The protest has also forced the legacy parties to make space for the younger generation.
"Democracy is strengthened where there are healthy and tough competitors," said political commentator Chandra Kishor. "The merger and meeting of alternative forces, including Shah, Lamichhane and Ghising, is the compelling demand of the ground which would lead to the positive polarisation of politics in the country."
Political Science Professor at Tribhuvan University Binay Mishra stated, "It is encouraging to see alternative forces banding together as a better option."
