Nepal’s Gen Z Announces Political Party; Election Participation Conditional on Demands

Nepal's influential Gen Z movement, which catalysed the ouster of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli's government last month through widespread protests against corruption and a social media blackout, announced on October 18, 2025, its intent to form a new political party to unify youth voices, but with a firm caveat: it will abstain from contesting the March 5, 2026, general elections unless the interim administration meets "bottom-line" demands for systemic reforms. Led by 24-year-old activist Miraj Dhungana, the group's press conference in Kathmandu outlined a vision blending anti-corruption measures, economic revitalisation, and electoral overhauls, signalling a generational push to disrupt Nepal's entrenched political duopoly dominated by the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML. Dhungana emphasised that while party formation is "essential to unite the youths associated with the Gen-Z movement," electoral participation hinges on fulfilment of core agendas, including a directly elected executive system and voting rights for the estimated 4 million Nepali expatriates, many in Gulf nations and Malaysia.

The movement's resurgence follows September's violent demonstrations, which forced Oli's resignation on September 10 after weeks of clashes that claimed 12 lives and injured over 500, according to Nepal Police records. President Ram Chandra Paudel appointed former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as interim Prime Minister on September 12, dissolving the House of Representatives and scheduling snap polls for March 5, 2026, to restore stability in the federal republic. Dhungana, who gained prominence through the #GarikhanDeu (Let Us Earn A Living) campaign, unveiled additional priorities: establishing a citizen-led anti-corruption investigation committee, adopting policies for economic transformation, and reopening shuttered industries to stem youth migration—over 1,500 Nepalis leave daily for foreign jobs, draining remittances worth $10 billion annually, per the Nepal Rastra Bank.

He urged focus on domestic production to tap markets in neighbouring India and China, whose combined 3 billion population offers export potential in agriculture and tourism, sectors employing 25% of Nepal's 7.5 million workforce but plagued by 8% unemployment among under-25s. "We will continue to fight for good governance, transparency, and checking corruption. We will not let the sacrifices of Gen-Z youths go in vain," Dhungana declared, soliciting public input for the party's name via social media, where #GenZPartyNepal has amassed 50,000 engagements since the announcement.

This strategic pivot reflects the Gen Z cohort's maturation from leaderless street protests—drawing 100,000 participants in Kathmandu alone—to institutionalised politics, amid a registration window closing November 16, 2025, as per the Election Commission Nepal. With 122 parties already certified, experts like Tribhuvan University's Sanjeev Humagain warn that splintered new entrants could fragment anti-establishment votes, benefiting incumbents with robust machines.

Dhungana's group, however, positions itself as a unifier, contrasting with rival youth factions like those of Rakhya Bam, who prioritise martyr justice over candidacy due to logistical hurdles. Social media reactions are mixed: supporters hail it as a "youthquake" on X, with posts like "Finally, Gen Z owning the future!" garnering 1,000 likes, while sceptics decry potential co-optation by elites. The interim Karki cabinet, comprising technocrats and facing a legitimacy test, has yet to respond but faces pressure to amend the 2015 Constitution's proportional representation model for direct executive polls and diaspora suffrage, long demanded by remittance-dependent families.

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As Nepal navigates post-protest reconstruction—with GDP growth projected at 4.5% for 2026 by the World Bank—the Gen Z initiative could reshape the 275-seat House, where youth under 35 hold just 15% of seats. Dhungana's call for collective nation-building resonates amid economic stagnation, where 40% of 18-24-year-olds remain jobless, fuelling brain drain. Yet, challenges loom: funding elections costs Rs 20 billion, and without alliances, the party risks marginalisation. As Diwali nears on October 20, symbolising renewal, this youth-led gambit embodies hope for a corruption-weary populace, potentially galvanising the 2.5 million eligible Gen Z voters to demand accountability before ballots fly.

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