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Social media excesses ignite youth protests
Nepal's younger generation took to the streets last September after months of outrage over the ostentatious lifestyles flaunted online by the children of political elites. Images of designer gifts stacked like holiday decorations, luxury trips to global resorts, and traffic-stopping wedding celebrations starkly contrasted with the country's economic struggles, where youth unemployment stands at 20.6% and three million citizens work abroad.
"The offspring of top politicians celebrate in Thailand and Switzerland," said 25-year-old lab technician Satish Kumar Yadav. "Meanwhile, ordinary families send their children to the Gulf just to find jobs."
Government backlash and deadly crackdown
A proposed ban on the social media platforms where young Nepalis voiced their frustration became the final spark. On September 8, thousands marched in protest. Within 48 hours, 77 people lay dead-many shot by police-and Prime Minister KP Oli resigned.
Silenced accounts and shifting priorities
In the aftermath, many of the high-profile accounts that once showcased privilege went dark. Shrinkhala Khatiwada, a former Miss Nepal and daughter of a former health minister, deleted her Instagram account after amassing over a million followers. Her final YouTube post, a 34-minute defense against the "nepo kids" label, was uploaded months ago.
Smita Dahal, granddaughter of a three-time prime minister, restricted her Instagram to private and halted Facebook updates in late August. Yet exceptions persist. Entrepreneur Saugat Thapa, son of a former minister, continues to share his international travels across Hong Kong, London, Istanbul, and Marrakech. Thapa has dismissed the "nepo kid" label as "unfair misinterpretation," arguing his father returned all public earnings to the community. The BBC has sought his comment.
"I think many people have moved on from the nepo babies trend," said Dipika Saru Mugar, who protested on September 8 with a sign reading "No more nepotism." "Our attention spans are short these days."
Corruption remains the core grievance
While the focus on social media excesses may have faded, the broader issue of corruption has not. According to Transparency International, 84% of Nepalis view government corruption as a major problem.
Recent scandals include five former ministers charged in December for inflating the cost of a new airport by $74 million (£54.5m). For context, one-fifth of Nepal's population lives on less than $2 a day. Other cases involve two ex-ministers accused of selling fake documents to Nepalis posing as Bhutanese refugees for U.S. entry, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Election promises and lingering skepticism
Ahead of next week's polls, political parties have pledged reforms to address youth anger. The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), founded recently, vows to increase accountability in constitutional bodies. The Communist Party of Nepal UML, in power during the protests, promises to engage youth in national development. The Nepali Congress proposes a high-level probe into public officials' assets since 1991 and has replaced five-time former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba as party president.
Deuba's son, Jaiveer Singh Deuba, faced criticism for his lavish wedding to singer Shivana Shrestha, along with their designer wardrobes and overseas trips. The couple's social media accounts have since vanished.
"They were forced to make internal reforms," said Rakshya Bam, a prominent Gen Z leader. "They've set term limits for prime ministers and party presidents, and capped ministerial tenures. It's a start to dismantling policy corruption."
Yet many young voters remain unconvinced. "If new faces emerge, I'm hopeful for change," Yadav said. "But if the old parties retain power, progress will be limited."
Structural challenges ahead
A source from Transparency International warned that systemic corruption won't be resolved quickly, especially under a predicted coalition government. "This is a deep-rooted problem," they said.
For first-time voter Dipika Saru Mugar, who is traveling 16 hours to cast her ballot, the memory of September's deaths looms large. "The revolt came from pain, and voters must remember that," she said. "People demand thorough corruption investigations. Injustice has been rampant, and we want accountability."
