Nepal’s Landmark General Election: A Turning Point in the Quest for Political Change

Syllabus:

      GS – 2 – India -Nepal relations, International peace and security

 Focus :

• Top of Form

 The article examines Nepal’s early general election, triggered by youth-led protests against corruption and misgovernance. It explains the country’s electoral system, the major political forces contesting the polls, and the broader demand for political reform. It also evaluates possible outcomes, including the likelihood of a hung parliament and the potential impact of new political actors and younger voters.

 Introduction: A Crucial Political Moment for Nepal

•     Nepal is preparing to hold a landmark general election that many observers view as a decisive moment in the country’s political evolution and a potential catalyst for structural change.
•     The election comes at a time of widespread public dissatisfaction with governance and political leadership, particularly with the ageing political class that has dominated the country for decades.
•     The polls are taking place in a context marked by growing demands for accountability, economic reform, and cleaner politics.
•     In recent years, a sense of frustration has developed among citizens regarding corruption, weak governance, service delivery failures, and the perceived dominance of an entrenched political elite.
•     The election also reflects a broader social transformation in Nepal.
•     The country’s young population has increasingly begun to demand transparency, meritocracy, and economic opportunities.
•     Consequently, the upcoming vote has become a symbol of the struggle between the established political order and emerging political forces.

Why the Election Was Called Ahead of Schedule

•     The general election has been scheduled two years earlier than originally planned.
•     This unusual step was taken in response to intense political pressure generated by a powerful youth-led movement that erupted across the country.
•     The gen z protests erupted in September and quickly spread across the country.
•     They were largely driven by young citizens who were frustrated with systemic corruption, poor governance, economic inequality, and limited economic opportunities.
•     The demonstrations lasted two days but had a profound impact on Nepal’s political landscape.
•     During the protests, a total of 77 people lost their lives.
•     The situation became particularly tragic on the first day of demonstrations when 19 protesters were killed in security forces firing on September 8.
•     In response, the government decided to call early elections in order to restore public trust and provide voters with an opportunity to express their political preferences.
•     The early election is therefore widely seen as an attempt to address public grievances and reset Nepal’s political system.

Youth Movement and Demand for Political Reform

•     The youth-led protests that triggered the election were not isolated incidents but rather part of a broader social movement demanding systemic change and governance reform.
•     Young people in Nepal have become increasingly vocal about issues such as corruption, political patronage, youth unemployment, and economic stagnation.
•     Many protesters argued that the country’s political system has been dominated for decades by a small group of leaders who have failed to deliver meaningful reforms or address economic desperation among the youth.
•     The youth movement emphasized three key demands:

1. Greater democratic accountability in governance.
2. Stronger anti-corruption measures and checks and balances.
3. Economic reforms aimed at job creation and reducing youth migration driven by lack of opportunities.

These demands resonated not only with the younger generation but also with a large segment of the general population.

Many citizens share concerns about the lack of transparency in governance, labor migration due to economic hardship, and the slow pace of economic development.

As a result, the election has taken on a broader significance as a potential turning point in Nepal’s democratic journey

Nepal’s History of Political Instability

•     Nepal’s political system has long been characterized by frequent changes in government and unstable coalition politics.
•     Since the restoration of democracy in 1990, the country has experienced a pattern of revolving-door politics in which governments often collapse before completing their full terms.
•     This instability has made it difficult for successive administrations to implement long-term development policies.
•     Frequent political crises have also undermined public confidence in democratic institutions.
•     In many cases, political parties have prioritized short-term power struggles over governance and policy reform.
•     The upcoming election is therefore seen as an opportunity to break this cycle and establish a more stable political order.

What the Election Will Decide

•     The general election will determine the composition of Nepal’s lower house of parliament, known as the House of Representatives of Nepal, also called the Pratinidhi Sabha.
•     This body is a key component of Nepal’s federal parliament and plays a central role in forming the national government.
•     The House of Representatives consists of 275 members.
•     These members are elected through a mixed electoral system that combines two different methods: First-Past-The-Post (FPTP), Proportional Representation (PR)
•     Out of the total 275 seats:
•     165 members are elected through the FPTP system.
•     110 members are elected through proportional representation.
•     This mixed system is designed to balance local representation with overall political proportionality.
•     In order to form a government independently, a political party must secure at least 138 seats, which represents a simple majority in the House.
•     If no party reaches this threshold, the largest party is usually invited to form a government through coalition-building with other parties.

How Nepal’s Electoral System Works

•     Nepal’s electoral system requires voters to cast two separate ballots.
•     The first ballot is for an individual candidate contesting in their local constituency under the First-Past-The-Post system.
•     Under this method, the candidate who receives the highest number of votes in a constituency wins the seat.
•     The second ballot is for a political party under the proportional representation system.
•     Under PR, seats are distributed among political parties based on their share of the nationwide vote.
•     The distribution of proportional representation seats is carried out by Nepal’s Election Commission using the Sainte-Laguë method.
•     This mathematical formula is commonly used in many democratic systems to allocate seats in proportion to the votes received by each party.
•     The combination of FPTP and PR aims to ensure both direct representation and fair distribution of political power.
•     However, this system also tends to produce fragmented parliaments, making coalition governments more likely.

Dominant Political Forces in Nepal

•     For much of the post-1990 democratic period, Nepali politics has been dominated by two major traditional political parties.
•     The first is the Nepali Congress, which traditionally represents democratic and centrist political ideals and has maintained a strong political stronghold in certain regions.
•     The second is the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), commonly known as CPN-UML, which follows a leftist ideological framework.
•     These two parties have alternated in power for decades and have shaped most of Nepal’s political decisions.
•     At the time of the September protests, the Prime Minister was K. P. Sharma Oli of the CPN-UML.
•     Despite ideological differences, these two parties have often collaborated in government formation.
•     However, many citizens now view them as part of an entrenched political establishment that has failed to address key governance issues and has shown authoritarian tendencies in response to dissent.

Rise of the Maoists in Nepali Politics

•         Nepal’s political landscape was significantly altered in 2008 with the rise of the Maoist movement.
•         The Maoists had previously waged a decade-long insurgency against the monarchy and the political establishment.
•         However, over time the Maoists themselves became part of the political establishment they once opposed.
•         Many voters now view them as similar to other traditional parties in terms of governance style and political alliances.

Formation of a New Communist Alliance

•         Following the recent protests, Pushpa Kamal Dahal attempted to consolidate leftist political forces by bringing together several smaller communist factions.
•         However, the success of this strategy remains uncertain because many voters perceive the alliance as part of the same political establishment that has governed Nepal for years.

Emergence of the Rastriya Swatantra Party

•         It emphasizes clean governance, transparency, and political reform.
•         Many voters, especially young people, view the party as a fresh option capable of challenging the dominance of older political elites.

The Rastriya Prajatantra Party and the Monarchy Debate

•         Another political actor in the election is the Rastriya Prajatantra Party.
•         This party advocates a controversial political agenda.
•         It seeks the restoration of Nepal’s monarchy and supports the idea of re-establishing Nepal as a Hindu state.
•         Nepal abolished its monarchy in 2008 and became a federal democratic republic under the Constitution of Nepal 2015.
•         Although the Rastriya Prajatantra Party has historically performed modestly in elections, its ideas continue to attract a segment of voters who are dissatisfied with the republican system.
•         Therefore, the party remains a relevant factor in Nepal’s political landscape.

Entry of the Ujyalo Nepal Party

•         Another newcomer to the political scene is the Ujyalo Nepal Party.
•         The party was founded by technocrat Kulman Ghising in December.
•         Kulman Ghising gained widespread recognition for his role in addressing Nepal’s long-standing electricity shortages.
•         The Ujyalo Nepal Party positions itself as a technocratic and governance-focused alternative.
•         Ideologically, it resembles the democratic socialism promoted by the Nepali Congress but places greater emphasis on efficient administration and technical expertise.

Slow Vote Counting and Electoral Complexity

•         Nepal’s elections are known for slow vote counting due to several logistical and procedural challenges.
•         The ballot design is complex, and the number of candidates and parties is unusually high.
•         In the current election:
•         67 political parties are contesting.
•         3,405 candidates are participating.
•         Votes are counted manually rather than electronically.
•         As a result, counting often takes considerable time.
•         Results from FPTP constituencies begin to emerge gradually as counting in individual constituencies is completed.
•         However, proportional representation votes must be tallied nationwide before seats can be allocated.
•         Because of this process, the final election results may take up to one month to be officially declared.

Possible Election Outcomes

•         Analysts believe that the election is likely to produce a fragmented political outcome.
•         Nepal’s mixed electoral system makes it difficult for any single party to achieve an outright majority.
•         Such coalition governments have been common in Nepal and have often resulted in unstable administrations.
•         Nevertheless, the election could still reshape the political balance if new parties gain significant representation.

Role of Youth Voters

•         Young voters are expected to play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the election.
•         The recent protests demonstrated the political power of Nepal’s youth population.

Voter Fatigue and Desire for Change

•         Another factor influencing the election is widespread voter fatigue with established political parties.
•         Many citizens feel that traditional parties have failed to deliver meaningful improvements in governance and economic development.
•         In some cases, voters may not necessarily expect dramatic change from these parties but may vote for them as a way of expressing dissatisfaction with the current system.
•         This dynamic could benefit parties such as the Rastriya Swatantra Party.

Conclusion

•         Nepal’s upcoming general election represents a critical moment in the country’s democratic evolution.
•         Triggered by youth-led protests and growing public dissatisfaction with governance, the election reflects a broader demand for political reform.
•         Ultimately, the election will test whether Nepal’s democratic institutions can respond effectively to public demands for accountability, transparency, and economic reform.

 Mains UPSC Question

GS 2

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