KATHMANDU, March 5: The interim government led by Prime Minister Sushila Karki has drawn widespread praise on social media for successfully conducting the House of Representatives (HoR) elections on Thursday, meeting the constitutionally mandated deadline despite earlier uncertainties over whether the polls would take place as scheduled.
Karki assumed office on September 12 following the September 8–9 Gen Z protests and violence that led to political upheaval. The 73-year-old former chief justice was entrusted with leading an interim administration and holding parliamentary elections within six months after the dissolution of the House. The government subsequently set March 5, 2026 as the election date.
With polling largely peaceful across the country, political leaders and members of the public took to social media to commend the government’s efforts.
Nepali Congress (NC) President Gagan Thapa praised the authorities for ensuring a smooth voting process. “With the exception of a few minor incidents, the elections were held peacefully. I would like to thank the government and the Election Commission,” he wrote.
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Senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party Balendra Shah also congratulated the prime minister, writing, “Today, democracy has prevailed under your leadership.”
Similarly, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, coordinator of the Nepali Communist Party, said the government succeeded in conducting the elections in a democratic and orderly manner despite widespread doubts about whether the polls could be held on time.
The elections were conducted amid skepticism in some political circles. A number of parties had earlier demanded the restoration of the dissolved House, raising concerns that they might boycott the polls. There were also questions about whether the government could organize the election within the mandated timeframe. Failure to do so could have raised questions about the interim administration’s legitimacy and potentially invited intervention from the President.
Beyond political leaders, professionals and social media users also lauded the government’s efforts. “PM Karki and Home Minister Aryal proved me wrong. Congratulations,” wrote Birat Aanupam on X.
Harshit Parajuli praised the prime minister’s leadership, saying she guided the country toward stability and ensured the election was held on time without undermining public participation.
Another user, Bibek Sah, wrote: “Thank you for the efforts made to conduct a peaceful election. This would not have been possible without strong leadership.”
Despite the largely positive response, some commentators expressed dissatisfaction over what they described as the government’s failure to take disciplinary action against those responsible for earlier unrest or to address the demands raised during the Gen Z movement, particularly regarding good governance and anti-corruption measures.
Analysts note, however, that the interim government’s primary mandate was to conduct elections within the stipulated timeframe—a task the Karki administration appears to have fulfilled successfully.
