Rakshya B.K. from the Nepali Newsroom introduces the Gen Z leaders taking part in the Nepal election
Leaders of the Gen Z movement behind the historic protests in Nepal last September are standing for Parliament in the upcoming election on 5 March. Most are representing the Rastriya Swantantra Party (RSP), which is in the spotlight for endorsing Gen Z agendas.
The country is voting for the 275 members of the House of Representatives, the lower house of the federal parliament. Nepal uses a mixed voting system: 165 members will be elected through first past the post (FPTP), while 110 will be elected through proportional representation (PR). Some of the Gen Z leaders are included in the PR list, others are contesting via FPTP.
Here, Harbingers’ Magazine explains who these key Gen Z leaders are and why they opted to contest the election. Others major figures – such as Raksha Bam, Arjun Sah, Amit Khanal and Aditya Karn – have decided to remain outside the election, but are still closely involved in political activities.
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Sudan Gurung
A well-known activist in Nepal, Sudan, 36, is a pivotal figure in the Gen Z movement. After the protests, heplayed a critical role in dialogue with the chief of the army, the president and other stakeholders in the formation of the interim government and the appointment of Sushila Karki as prime minister.
After the election was announced, he worked on bringing together alternative forces who would endorse Gen Z mandates. He joinedthe RSP party in January along with Balen Shah,the former mayor of Kathmandu, who is the RSP’s candidate for prime minister.
Sudan is standingfor election in the Gorkha-1 constituency (FPTP). He began his activism work following the devastating earthquake in 2015; previously, he worked as a DJ in Thamel, the main tourist neighbourhood in Kathmandu.
Purushotam Yadav
Purushotam Yadav, 27, is the Gen Z leader who sought official permission for the original protest on 8 September from the District Administration Office in Kathmandu. He is standing for RSP in the Tarai-Madhes region (PR).
Speaking to Harbingers’, he said: “This is a do-or-die election for us. Traditional forces are against us. They do not value the sacrifice of Gen Z martyrs.”
He continued: “RSP must get a majority in the parliament after the election to recognise and respect Gen Z’s sacrifices and to change the political landscape of Nepal.”
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KP Khanal
KP Khanal, 26, is famous as the youngest social activist in Nepal. He has long been involved in environmental-related work and activism, and even started a radio programme at the age of 13 about children’s rights. He also runs a popular café in Kathmandu.
He joined the RSP party after the Gen Z revolution from Balen’s side and is running for office in the Kailali-2 constituency. He is also a central committee member of the RSP.
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Bablu Gupta
Following the Gen Z protest, Bablu Gupta was appointed as the youth and sports minister in the interim cabinet – the youngest minister in the history of Nepal at the age of just 28.
He resigned from his ministerial position in January in order to file his candidacy for the elections. He is running on the RSP ticket in Siraha-1 constituency.
Bablu is also the founder of a non-profit organisation called 100’s Group, which donates food, clothing and emergency aid to poor communities.
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Shiva Shankar Yadav
Shiva, 30, is another familiar face in Nepal, who has been actively involved in the Gen Z movement for a long time. After the September protests, he became a central committee member of the RSP. He is standing for the party in the Siraha-2 constituency, in south-eastern Nepal.
Manish Khanal
A lawyer, Manish Khanal is a member of the Gen-Z Front, one of the key groups involved in the anti-government protests. He is standing for the RSP in Nawalparasi-2 constituency.
Tashi Lhazom
Tashi Lhazom, 26, is an activist on climate justice and indigenous rights from the Humla district, a remote and mountainous region in northern Nepal.
She rose to prominence following the Gen Z protests when her name was put forward to be a cabinet minister. However, her name was then removed, due to controversies regarding her citizenship and her Tibetan heritage, amid fears of tension with Nepal’s powerful neighbour China.
She joined the RSP and was endorsed in the party’s PR list. She was meant to be an election candidate in the Humla district, but her name was again removed for similar reasons, without her consent.
In a brief conversation with Harbingers’ Magazine, Tashi said the election is about her identity and the existence of her community, along with the responsibility of Gen Z.
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