Nepalis vote in first election since Gen Z uprising for change

Nearly 19 million Nepalis voted in the country's first general election since violent youth-led protests toppled the government last September. The election, held on March 5, saw a turnout of around 60% and included almost a million first-time voters. Corruption, economic stagnation, and inequality were the main issues in the vote. The election pits the establishment against a new generation of politicians advocating for change among young Gen Z voters. Leading candidates include KP Sharma Oli, the prime minister toppled in the protests, and Balen Shah, a former rapper running for office. Voting was largely peaceful, with a huge security presence across the country, and counting the votes is expected to take several days.

Explore how the topics in this article connect to other news stories