Nepal Urges Voters to Turn Out for First General Election Since Mass Protests
Nepal’s leaders have called on citizens to participate peacefully in the country’s upcoming general election on 5 March, the first nationwide vote since youth-led protests toppled the previous government in September last year.
In a televised address to the nation on Monday, Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki urged citizens to turn up at polling stations despite what she described as a “complex, sensitive and challenging” period for the country.
Nearly 19 million voters are expected to take part in the election for Nepal’s House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament. Officials say around 800,000 voters will be casting their ballots for the first time.
Calling the election an important moment for the country’s future, Karki stressed that democracy depends on public participation.
“It is only with your active participation that our democracy will survive,” she said during the national broadcast, while also urging people to maintain peace and harmony during the voting process.
Meanwhile, Nepal’s President Ram Chandra Poudel also encouraged citizens to vote, describing the election as a “historic opportunity” to strengthen Nepal’s federal democratic republic.
More than 3,400 candidates are contesting 275 seats in the House of Representatives. Election officials noted that over 1,000 of the candidates are under the age of 40, highlighting growing youth participation in the country’s politics.
Security forces have been deployed nationwide to maintain order during the vote. Nepal Police said about 77,000 officers and 134,000 temporary election police personnel have been mobilised, while the Nepali Army has deployed nearly 80,000 troops for security operations.
Authorities have also taken action against individuals accused of attempting to disrupt the election process. Police said 133 people have been arrested for alleged “anti-election activities,” with 70 still in custody as of Sunday evening.
Among those detained is controversial political figure Durga Prasai, who has faced multiple arrests over the past two years. Prasai, a medical entrepreneur, coordinates the Nation, Nationalism, Religion, Culture, and Citizens’ Protection Campaign, a movement that calls for the restoration of Nepal’s monarchy and its status as a Hindu kingdom.
According to reports, Prasai was arrested after announcing protest plans targeting the election. His secretariat criticised the move, saying it violated his “right to freedom of expression and peaceful expression of opinion.”
Despite political tensions, election officials say preparations have so far proceeded peacefully, with security agencies across the country on high alert ahead of voting day.
The election is widely seen as a key step in stabilising Nepal’s political landscape following months of unrest and government change.