Elections after the Gen Z Revolt: Old Parties, New Fears

Nepalese politics is on the cusp of a huge transformation, or at least that’s what it seems in the aftermath of the Gen Z revolt. The Gen Z revolt is seen as one of Nepal’s most unprecedented events, one that swiftly dismantled the government in less than forty-eight hours. In retrospect, the events of Sept 8 and Sept 9 feel dreamlike yet overwhelming, much like a strong gust of wind with sweeping effects. What the Gen Z revolt swept away was not, however, something minuscule. It swept away the hubris of those at the helm. The political powerhouses—the CPN-UML, NC, and the Maoists—have such a stronghold in national politics that one would find it hard to believe they would struggle to maintain their popularity. After the political parties conspired with foreign powers to boot out Gyanendra Shah by signing an accord in New Delhi followed by the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, three parties took turns running the government, with no other parties posing significant challenges to them. On the contrary, now these traditional forces not only fear losing relevance but also dread being crushed by new forces in the upcoming elections. Fought against malgovernance, cronyism, and widespread corruption, the Gen Z revolution has successfully instilled fear in traditional forces, with a loud message that the generation doesn’t entertain old, ineffective leaders. In hindsight, it’s clear that the young generation had been silently weighing everyone in power, and it was only a matter of time before their anger burst out.