KATHMANDU, Sept 28: A fast-growing social media trend using the hashtags #Jholey and #ExposeJholey is drawing widespread attention.
The campaign targets political party supporters and cadres who continue to defend senior political leaders despite mounting public frustration over their lack of accountability.
It began after party loyalists started posting photos with their leaders to display allegiance. This triggered a backlash—especially among young users—who argue that such supporters help the same old leaders return to power.
The #Jholey trend follows the earlier #Nepokid campaign, which criticized politicians’ children for enjoying privileged lifestyles. That movement helped drive the September 8 anti-corruption protest that led to the government’s fall, though at a heavy cost of 74 lives and widespread damage.
Since then, pressure has grown on senior politicians to step aside for younger, more accountable leadership. But when familiar leaders began staging comebacks—this time backed by loyal young cadres—many Nepalis turned to social media to call out and expose these supporters.
COVID-19: Second wave much deadlier than the first wave
“Jholey,” a Nepali slang term derived from jhola (bag), refers to someone who literally or symbolically carries a leader’s bag, stays close, and defends them in hopes of receiving political favors or posts. The word has come to describe opportunists who shield their leaders from criticism and help them cling to power despite public demand for change.
On Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, users are posting videos, screenshots, and photos highlighting such behavior, often pairing them with trending soundtracks like “Money, Money, Money” and “Bella Ciao.”
Many are also sharing old clips of political leaders making lofty promises to improve the country—promises that now seem hollow.
One viral Instagram reel under the hashtag shows a CPN-UML youth leader confronting a Gen Z protester and insisting that senior leaders should not be questioned.
Another Facebook post shares a screenshot of a chat in which a party cadre instructed group members to follow the party’s official narrative regardless of the facts.
As frustration mounts, the #Jholey trend has become a digital forum for pushing back against political loyalty that places leaders above truth, accountability, and national progress.
Bagmati Province Govt providing 85 two-wheelers to police
KATHMANDU, Sept 27: The Bagmati Province government is all set to provide 85 motorcycles to the police citing the inconvenience that the security forces have been facing after their vehicles were damaged during the Gen Z movement.
According to Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Prabhat Tamang, the provincial government has decided to purchase motorcycles worth around Rs 30 million, which will be handed over to the police.
Under the plan, the provincial government will be providing 30 two-wheelers to the area police offices, 30 to the Valley Police, and 25 to the Valley Traffic Police.
Minister Tamang, who is also the spokesperson for the Bagmati provincial government, said that the decision to provide motorcycles was made keeping in view the security concern for the ongoing festival. According to him, the motorbikes to be purchased will be of a maximum capacity of 160 cc and cost up to Rs 350,000 per unit.
