Nepal: Political, Social, and Electoral Snapshot (January 2026)

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Political situation:

Nepal is in political flux following the September 2025 Gen Z–led protests, which began over a social media ban and evolved into wider demands for accountability and constitutional reform. The unrest exposed weaknesses in the 2015 Constitution, triggered violent clashes, and led to an interim government headed by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki. Public trust remains low, with critics accusing the interim leadership of failing to address corruption or prosecute protest-related violence.

Politics has opened beyond traditional party elites, with business figures, journalists, influencers, and activists entering the arena, alongside a new party fielding LGBTIQ candidates. However, entrenched corruption scandals—especially involving senior figures like former PM KP Sharma Oli—continue to undermine credibility. International actors, notably India and the United States, are pressing for early elections as a path back to democratic stability.

Social situation:
Nepal faces overlapping pressures from economic inequality, climate stress, and lingering protest-related tensions. Social media has reshaped political mobilization, amplifying both reformist energy and identity-based divisions. While community-led environmental programs have reversed deforestation, social inequalities persist. Communal violence, such as recent clashes in Birgunj, highlights fragile intercommunal relations. Despite this, 2026 is widely seen as a potential window for generational and structural transformation.

Elections:
Early general elections are scheduled for March 5, 2026, with preparations largely complete. Sixty-eight parties and many independents are competing, with youth and first-time voters playing a decisive role. Security planning is advanced, transparency rules on campaign financing have tightened, and concerns remain over violence, political fragmentation, and regional geopolitics—especially India’s influence. The elections are widely viewed as a critical test of Nepal’s democratic reset.


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