On March 5, Nepal will return to the polls in one of the most politically charged elections in its recent democratic history. Six months ago, youth-led protests-often labeled the “Gen Z uprising”-toppled an elected government accused of entrenched corruption and authoritarian drift. Today, many of the same political forces that were targets of public fury are asking voters for another mandate, promising sweeping reforms to curb graft and restore integrity to public life.

Yet across Nepal’s towns and cities, from the Terai plains to the Kathmandu Valley, a single question hangs over the campaign: why should voters believe them now?

The political crisis reached its peak in September, when demonstrations triggered by a ban on social media spiraled into a broader revolt against systemic corruption. Security forces responded with force; more than 2,000 people were injured and 77 killed. Government buildings-including the Supreme Court and parliament-were set ablaze amid the unrest.

In the aftermath, an interim administration was formed under former Chief Justice Sushila Karki. She moved the general election forward nearly two years, framing it as a democratic reset in response to the youth-driven upheaval.

Now, nearly 8.9 million voters are eligible to cast ballots for the 275-member House of Representatives. Among them are approximately 915,000 first-time voters-many of whom came of age politically during the protests. This generational shift has injected new energy into the electoral process, but also intensified scrutiny of campaign promises.

Every major party has placed anti-corruption at the center of its manifesto. Proposals range from comprehensive asset investigations of senior officials to deploying artificial intelligence systems to detect financial irregularities. One party has even floated reinstating the death penalty for major corruption offenses-despite Nepal having abolished capital punishment in 1990.

Such rhetoric reflects the political calculus of the moment. Corruption is no longer a peripheral issue; it is the issue. The protests exposed a deep reservoir of anger toward political elites perceived as insulated from accountability.

Yet........

© Blitz