Nepal Heads to High-Stakes 2026 Polls Amid Surge of Youth, Reformists and High-Profile Challengers

Gen Z protests, political upheaval and a crowded field reshape the race for March 5 parliamentary elections

KalimNews, Kathmandu, January 21, 2026 : Nepal is preparing for a pivotal general election on March 5, 2026, following the dissolution of Parliament in September 2025, with the political landscape witnessing an unprecedented influx of younger leaders, social activists, technocrats and media personalities challenging long-entrenched party elites. The election comes in the aftermath of widespread Gen Z-led anti-corruption protests in 2025, which triggered the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, the collapse of his government and a brief interim administration led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, before the country moved swiftly towards fresh polls.

This election cycle has come to be defined by a clear “youth versus old guard” narrative, as public frustration with political instability, corruption and governance failures has translated into strong support for reform-oriented candidates, independents and newly formed parties. At the same time, veteran leaders and former prime ministers remain firmly in the fray, setting up high-profile electoral contests across the country.

Among the most closely watched battles is in Jhapa-5, where former Prime Minister and CPN (UML) chairman K.P. Sharma Oli, a key figure of the political establishment, is facing a challenge from Balendra “Balen” Shah. Shah, a rapper-turned-structural engineer and former independent Mayor of Kathmandu, has emerged as a youth icon for his anti-corruption stance and urban reforms. Having joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), he is being projected by supporters as a potential prime ministerial face of the reformist camp.

Another prominent figure symbolising generational transition within traditional politics is Gagan Kumar Thapa, the newly elected president of the Nepali Congress, the country’s largest party. Widely regarded as a leading contender for the prime minister’s post, Thapa is contesting from Sarlahi-4 and is seen as the bridge between the party’s old leadership and younger voters seeking change from within the system.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, former Prime Minister and chair of the Nepali Communist Party (NCP), is contesting from Rukum East, representing a major leftist bloc formed from multiple communist factions. Former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, now leading the Pragatisheel Lokatantrik Party, is contesting from Gorkha-2, positioning himself as a senior statesman outside the dominant party structures. Another former Prime Minister, Madhav Kumar Nepal of the NCP, has entered the race from Rautahat-1, though his candidacy has faced formal challenges.

Technocrats and governance-focused candidates have also entered electoral politics in significant numbers. Kulman Ghising, former Managing Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority and widely hailed as a national hero for ending up to 16-hour daily power cuts during his tenure, is contesting from Kathmandu-3 as chairperson of the Ujyalo Nepal Party. Known for his administrative leadership and technocratic reputation rather than traditional party politics, Ghising enjoys strong public goodwill.

Harka Raj Rai, popularly known as Harka Sampang, the former Mayor of Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City, is contesting from Sunsari-1. A social activist known for his unconventional, labour-based development approach, he is the chairman of the Shram Sanskriti Party, a new political outfit he founded in the wake of the 2025 Gen Z movements.

Rabi Lamichhane, chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party and a former television journalist, remains one of the most influential figures in the reformist space. Contesting from Chitwan-2, Lamichhane has capitalised on widespread voter disillusionment with established parties. He filed his nomination via proxy amid legal issues but continues to be a central figure in the national campaign.

C.K. Raut, leader of the Janamat Party and a former separatist who entered mainstream politics, continues to command significant influence in the Madhesh region and remains a key player in the evolving political equation.

The election has also drawn several prominent independents and civic leaders shaped by years of grassroots work. Mahabir Pun, a renowned Nepali teacher, scientist, social entrepreneur and innovator best known for bringing wireless internet connectivity to remote Himalayan villages through the Nepal Wireless Networking Project, has resigned as Minister for Education, Science and Technology to contest the House of Representatives election. Pun, who also founded the National Innovation Center (Rastriya Abiskar Kendra) to promote innovation and entrepreneurship among youth, is running as an independent candidate from Myagdi-1, his home constituency in Gandaki Province. He had been appointed education minister in the interim government in 2025, reflecting his long-standing contribution to education and innovation.

Youth activists emerging from the 2025 protest movement are also entering the electoral arena. Miraj Dhungana, a Gen Z-era social activist associated with the protests, has announced plans to contest the election and is reported to be forming or leading a new party aimed at converting protest momentum into parliamentary politics. Sudan (Sudhan) Gurung, a key leader of the Hami Nepal Gen Z movement, has joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party and filed his nomination from Gorkha-1. Ashika Tamang, another social activist who gained prominence after the protests, is contesting from Dhading-1 on an RSP ticket, following internal party deliberations that drew public attention.

Seasoned party figures also remain in the race, including Kulmani Devkota, a senior CPN (UML) leader contesting from Surkhet-2.

A striking feature of the 2026 election is the large number of journalists transitioning into active politics. Veteran journalist and television talk-show host Rishi Dhamala, founder of the Reporter’s Club Nepal, is contesting from Rautahat-4 as a candidate of the Aam Janata Party. Jagdish Kharel, a journalist and former Minister of Communications and Information Technology in the interim government, has resigned from his ministerial post and is contesting from Lalitpur-2 on an RSP ticket. Kabir Rana, with a media background, is contesting from Bhaktapur-2 for the RSP, while Manarishi Dhital is running from Jumla-1 representing the Pragatisheel Lokatantrik Party. Rupa Maharjan, a journalist, has been fielded by the Nepali Communist Party from Kathmandu-10, and Ajay Babu Siwakoti, another journalist, is contesting from Dolakha-1 for the Nepali Congress. Uddabraj Bhetwal is contesting from Kathmandu-6 for the RSP, Swagat Nepal from Jhapa-2 under the same party banner, and Surya Bahadur Thapa Chettri, a former journalist, is running as a CPN (UML) candidate from Pyuthan district. Sobita Gautam and Nisha Dangi, both with journalistic backgrounds and previously elected MPs, are again contesting under the RSP banner.

With veteran leaders, technocrats, activists, independents and media figures all competing for space, Nepal’s March 5, 2026 election is shaping up as one of the most competitive and politically transformative contests in the country’s recent history, reflecting a broader public demand for accountability, generational change and alternatives to long-established political elites.

In a landmark political development in Nepal, four former prime ministers have formally announced their candidacies for the upcoming general elections scheduled for March 5, following the mass Gen Z-led anti-corruption protests of 2025. The protests, which reflected widespread frustration with entrenched political elites, led to the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and the formation of a brief interim government under former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, setting the stage for early elections.

K.P. Sharma Oli of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) (CPN-UML), a central figure of the “Old Guard,” is contesting from Jhapa-5, seeking to reassert his influence despite the public outcry that brought down his government last year. Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, former Prime Minister and chairman of the Maoist Centre, has filed his nomination from Rukum East, continuing his prominent presence in national politics. Meanwhile, Madhav Kumar Nepal, another former prime minister, is contesting from Rautahat-1, and Baburam Bhattarai, also a former prime minister and leader of the Pragatisheel Lokatantrik Party, has entered the fray from Gorkha-2.

These developments mark a notable reunion of senior political leadership in Nepal’s 2026 polls, even as internal party dynamics and public sentiment influenced by the Gen Z-led movements have prompted some seasoned figures to step aside or reassess their political strategies.

Signalling a generational shift, younger and reform-oriented leaders are emerging as strong contenders alongside these veteran politicians. Former Kathmandu Mayor Balendra “Balen” Shah, a rapper-turned-structural engineer renowned for his anti-corruption stance and urban reform agenda, has joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party and is challenging K.P. Sharma Oli in Jhapa-5. His candidacy exemplifies a broader trend of civic leaders, social activists, and professionals entering formal politics, reflecting growing voter demand for accountability, transparency, and change.

The election is increasingly being framed as a contest between the “Youth versus Old Guard,” highlighting the evolving political landscape where Gen Z activism, independent candidates, and reform-driven parties are poised to influence Nepal’s parliamentary composition significantly.