Nepal holds parliamentary election after Gen Z uprising topples government

Nepal will hold a parliamentary election Thursday, the first vote since a Gen Z-led uprising in September 2025 toppled the government in the Himalayan nation of 30 million people.

Polling stations will open at 7 a.m. local time and remain open until 5 p.m., with more than 23,000 voting centres set up across the country. The election will determine a new parliament to replace the interim administration that has governed since the September protests.

The uprising resulted in at least 77 deaths during a deadly crackdown on demonstrators. The movement has become a symbol of youthful political power, with Gen Z voters now playing a central role in shaping the nation's direction.

Voter expectations are high, with many Nepalis hoping for change after years of corruption and political patronage that have driven hundreds of thousands of citizens to seek work overseas annually. Many voters are seeking fairer opportunities at home and accountability for the government's response to the protests.

Among the contenders in the election is Balen Shah, a onetime rapper who has electrified the electorate with his candidacy. Shah is positioned as a challenger to establishment rivals, including the prime minister who was ousted by the Gen Z movement.

The election comes at a time when Nepal has been marked by a revolving door of coalition governments in previous electoral cycles. The current vote represents an opportunity for voters to reshape the political landscape following the upheaval of September 2025.

Candidates have rallied on the final day of the campaign, with the prime minister urging citizens to vote in the election.