With just three days left before the scheduled parliamentary elections on March 5, Nepal’s interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki has called on citizens to actively engage in the polls. The Prime Minister emphasized that voting is crucial for shaping the future, both for individuals and their children. Nepal is gearing up for elections following the Gen-Z movement last year, which led to the formation of an interim government under Karki’s leadership.
All major political parties, including the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) and the Nepali Congress, are participating in the upcoming elections. Despite initial concerns raised by some political factions, the parties are actively contesting the polls. Prime Minister Karki, addressing the nation before the elections and the Holi festival, encouraged voters to contribute to the country’s political stability and prosperity by participating in the electoral process.
Nepal is set to elect 275 members to the House of Representatives, with 165 seats allocated through the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system and 110 through proportional representation. A total of 3,406 candidates from 67 political parties are vying for seats under the FPTP system. Prime Minister Karki expressed satisfaction in steering the country through a challenging political transition post the Gen-Z movement, emphasizing the importance of returning to a peaceful and constitutional path.
The Prime Minister highlighted the need for discipline among political parties, candidates, and supporters during the silence period before the elections. She also cautioned against the spread of misinformation and disinformation on social media, urging citizens to be vigilant. Addressing concerns about Nepalis in the Middle East amid the US-Iran conflict, Karki assured that the government is closely monitoring the situation and ensuring the safety of Nepali nationals in the region.
