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Nepal prepares for first post-protest general election
Nepali leaders have urged citizens to participate peacefully in Thursday's general election, the first since mass protests ousted the government last September. Nearly 19 million voters, including 800,000 first-time participants, will elect members to the House of Representatives.
Interim PM appeals for calm and democratic participation
In a national address on Monday, Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki acknowledged the election follows a "complex, sensitive, and challenging" period. A former chief justice, Karki emphasized the vote as a pivotal moment for Nepal's democracy, calling on citizens to maintain peace and harmony.
"It is only with your active participation that our democracy will survive,"
Sushila Karki, Interim Prime Minister of Nepal
Security tightened as arrests precede polling day
Authorities have detained 133 individuals on charges of "anti-election activities," with 70 remaining in custody as of Sunday. Among those arrested is Durga Prasai, a polarizing political figure and medical entrepreneur who leads a campaign advocating for the restoration of Nepal's monarchy and Hindu kingdom status.
Prasai's secretariat condemned his arrest as a violation of his "right to freedom of expression and peaceful opinion." He was detained after announcing protests targeting the election, according to BBC Nepali.
Historic opportunity to strengthen democracy, president says
President Ram Chandra Poudel framed the election as a "shared responsibility and historic duty" to reinforce Nepal's federal democratic republic. In a statement on Monday, he urged voters to seize the chance to make the nation's democratic journey "more comprehensive, credible, and consolidated."
Record security deployment and candidate diversity
Over 3,400 candidates, including more than 1,000 under the age of 40, are competing for 275 seats in the House of Representatives. Security forces have been placed on high alert, with Nepal Police deploying 77,000 officers and 134,000 election-specific personnel. The Nepali Army has also mobilized nearly 80,000 troops to ensure safety.
Officials reported that election activities have proceeded peacefully so far, though vigilance remains elevated ahead of Thursday's vote.
