Nepal votes in key post-uprising polls<\/p>\n
Votes open Thursday for a new parliament in Nepal, as young leaders\nchallenge older politicians following anti-corruption protests.<\/p>\n
KATHMANDU: Nepal votes Thursday (Mar 5) for a new parliament, six\nmonths after deadly anti-corruption protests toppled the government - a\nhigh-stakes showdown between an entrenched old guard and a powerful\nyouth movement.<\/p>\n
Key figures contesting for power include the Marxist former prime\nminister seeking a return to office, a rapper-turned-mayor bidding for\nthe youth vote, and the newly elected leader of the powerful Nepali\nCongress party.<\/p>\n
Nearly 19 million voters will choose who replaces the interim\ngovernment in place since the September 2025 uprising, in which at least\n77 people were killed, and parliament and scores of government buildings\nwere torched.<\/p>\n
Youth-led protests under a loose Gen Z banner began as a\ndemonstration against a brief social media ban, but were fed by wider\ngrievances at corruption and a woeful economy.<\/p>\n
Sushila Karki, the interim prime minister, has urged people to vote\n\u201cwithout any fear\u201d, and thousands of soldiers and police are deployed at\npolling centres.<\/p>\n
The polls, which open at 7am local time (9.15am, Singapore time), are\none of the most hotly contested elections in the Himalayan republic of\n30 million people since the end of a civil war in 2006.<\/p>\n
The polls, which open at 7am local time (9.15am, Singapore time), are\none of the most hotly contested elections in the Himalayan republic of\n30 million people since the end of a civil war in 2006.<\/p>\n
The election has seen a wave of younger candidates promising to\ntackle Nepal\u2019s woeful economy, challenging veteran politicians who have\ndominated for decades and argue that their experience guarantees\nstability and security.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are so hopeful,\u201d said Sashi Gurung, 33, who will vote in\nKathmandu.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis election is not a normal election. This is going to be one of\nthe changing points for Nepalis, for Nepal.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHAS TO BE CHANGE\u201d<\/p>\n
Helicopters have flown voter materials to snowbound mountain regions\nacross Nepal, home to eight of the world\u2019s 10 highest peaks, including\nMount Everest.<\/p>\n
But all eyes will be focused on the hot farming plains youth of the\ncapital, where all three prime ministerial hopefuls are contesting seats\n- a departure from past elections that focused on the capital\nKathmandu.<\/p>\n
That includes the usually sleepy eastern town of Jhapa, the site of a\nhead-to-head contest between two key rivals.<\/p>\n
KP Sharma Oli, the 74-year-old Marxist leader ousted as prime\nminister last year and seeking a return to power, is being challenged in\nhis home constituency by former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, a\n35-year-old rapper-turned-politician.<\/p>\n
The Jhapa-5 constituency - with around 163,000 voters - will\ndetermine whether Oli secures his seat or whether Shah enters\nparliament.<\/p>\n
Shah, from the centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has cast\nhimself as a symbol of youth-driven political change, encouraging voters\nto \u201cring the bell\u201d of change, in reference to the party symbol.<\/p>\n
Also in the race as aspiring prime minister is Gagan Thapa, 49, the\nnew head of the country\u2019s oldest party, Nepali Congress, who has told\nAFP he wanted to end the \u201cold age\u201d club of revolving veteran\nleaders.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo many people, including Gen Z, sacrificed their lives,\u201d said Shiv\nShrestha, 57, who will vote in the Jhapa district.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere has to be change,\u201d he added. \u201cCorruption must stop, and more\nemployment opportunities should be created here in Nepal. What happened\nlast year should not happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n
More than 3,400 candidates are running for 165 seats in direct\nelections to the 275-member House of Representatives, the lower chamber\nof parliament, with 110 more chosen via party lists.<\/p>\n
Nepal\u2019s mountainous terrain presents logistical challenges in\ntransporting the ballot boxes after the voting ends.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will also use helicopters to collect them. Once they are\ncollected and counting begins, we will publish the results within 24\nhours under the direct election system,\u201d Chief Election Commissioner Ram\nPrasad Bhandari told reporters on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Results under the proportional representation system may take\nlonger.<\/p>\n
Analysts say the vote is unlikely to deliver an outright majority for\nany single party.<\/p>\n
It could take several days for full results - and longer if\nnegotiations for a coalition government prove tricky. Voting will close\nat 5pm (7.15pm, Singapore time).<\/p>\n
Source: AFP\/fs<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nepal-votes-in-key-post-uprising-polls-1772665057", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }