Nepal has begun voting in its first general election since the violent “Gen Z protests” last September that led to the collapse of the government and plunged the Himalayan nation into a period of political transition. On March 5, millions of voters across the country went to polling stations to elect 275 lawmakers who will constitute the next parliament.

According to Nepal’s Election Commission, approximately 19 million eligible voters are registered to participate in the nationwide vote. Polling stations opened at 7:00 a.m. local time across more than 23,000 voting centers and are scheduled to close at 5:00 p.m. Authorities expect turnout to be high as citizens seek to shape the country’s political future after months of uncertainty.

The election marks a pivotal moment for Nepal following the political upheaval that erupted last year when mass demonstrations-widely referred to as the “Gen Z protests”-swept across major cities and rural areas alike. The protests, largely driven by young voters frustrated with economic stagnation, corruption allegations, and political instability, quickly escalated into violent confrontations between demonstrators and security forces.

The unrest left at least 77 people dead and more than 2,000 others injured, according to official figures. Amid the escalating crisis, the government led by former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli collapsed, and Nepal’s parliament was subsequently dissolved. The dramatic political turmoil forced the country’s leadership to seek an interim arrangement to stabilize governance.

Since the dissolution of parliament, the country has been governed by an interim administration headed by former Chief Justice Sushila........

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