Nepal’s Parliament Sees Rise of Young Lawmakers Following Gen Z Movement
Kathmandu, Nepal – The recent Nepalese general election, held on March 5, 2026, has ushered in a novel generation of political leaders, signaling a potential shift in the country’s political landscape. This change comes on the heels of significant protests led by Gen Z activists last year.
Youthful Representation in the House of Representatives
Early results indicate that at least 12 candidates aged 30 and under have secured seats in the House of Representatives through the first-past-the-post system. The majority, eleven, belong to the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which is poised for a landslide victory. One successful candidate represents the newly formed Shram Sanskriti Party.
Prashanta Uprety, 25, of the RSP, is the youngest member elected to the newly formed House. Nisha Dangi, 29, and Shovita Gautam, 29, have both successfully transitioned from party-nominated positions to winning direct public mandates, demonstrating strong grassroots support.
“Giant-Killers” and Symbolic Victories
The election also saw the emergence of candidates who unseated established political figures. Sulabh Kharel, 28, defeated veteran CPN (UML) leader and former minister Bishnu Paudel by a significant margin. Bablu Gupta, also 28, resigned from his position in the interim government to contest the elections and was successful.
Other young winners include Ranju Neupane, Shivashankar Yadav, and Ramjee Yadav, all aged 30. Neupane’s victory is particularly noteworthy, as she balanced her campaign with new motherhood. She first gained national attention in 2017 when she ran for mayor of Kathmandu as part of Bibeksheel Nepali, a group credited with raising youth socio-political awareness.
RSP’s Potential Majority and Constitutional Implications
The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is currently dominating the vote count and is on course to potentially secure a two-thirds majority in the election. As of March 10, 2026, the RSP has 125 of the 165 seats determined by direct voting and potentially 58 of the 110 seats decided by proportional representation. BBC News reports that a two-thirds majority requires 184 seats, meaning the party may be only one seat short of this figure.
Even as the RSP has promised constitutional changes, including alterations to the country’s federal structure and electoral processes, achieving these changes will be complex. The Nepalese Parliament consists of two houses: the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. The National Assembly is elected through an electoral college, not by popular vote. A two-thirds majority is required in both houses to amend the constitution, a threshold the RSP currently does not meet. BBC News
The Broader Context of Generational Change
The influx of young parliamentarians, particularly from the RSP, represents a significant generational shift in Nepali politics. Ratopati reports that twenty candidates under 35 years traditional from the RSP have been elected, along with one each from the Nepali Congress, Shram Sanskriti Party, and Rastriya Prajatantra Party. A total of 23 candidates under 35 have won direct elections.
Sobita Gautam, 30, a central member of the RSP, secured victory in Chitwan-3 with 59,277 votes, leading all MPs under 35.
Looking Ahead
The 2026 Nepalese general election marks a pivotal moment for the country, with a new generation poised to play a more prominent role in shaping its future. The extent to which these young parliamentarians can meet public expectations and navigate the complexities of Nepali politics remains to be seen. The election results have injected new energy into the debate on generational transition in Nepali politics. Wikipedia