KATHMANDU, Oct 19: Barely six weeks after the September 8–9 Gen Z protests that toppled the government, the once-unified youth movement now appears divided as the country prepares for fresh elections.
The interim government led by Prime Minister Sushila Karki—formed in the aftermath of the protests—has announced that national elections will be held on March 5, 2026. Major political parties such as the Nepali Congress and the CPN (Maoist Centre) have confirmed their participation, while the CPN-UML, though sharply critical of the government, has yet to officially declare an election boycott.
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Against this backdrop, internal rifts among Gen Z activists—who once vowed to reshape Nepal’s political landscape—are becoming increasingly visible.
Several leading figures have started forming separate political parties with distinct agendas and strategies, raising concerns that the youth movement’s momentum could weaken before mounting a serious challenge to the already established political powers.
On Saturday, Miraj Dhungana, one of the prominent faces of the September 8-9 protests, announced the formation of a new political party during a press meet at a five-star hotel in Kathmandu. Although the party’s name has not been finalized, Dhungana said his group would not participate in any election unless Nepal adopts a directly elected executive system and grants voting rights to Nepalis living abroad.
Another key protest leader, Sudan Gurung, who had earlier declared his readiness to serve as prime minister if chosen by the people, also plans to launch a separate party. Gurung has voiced support for youth-favored figures such as Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah, Energy Minister Kulman Ghising, and Dharan Mayor Harka Sampang as potential national leaders. While he has urged Sampang to lead his envisioned party, Sampang has already registered his own Shram Sanskriti Party with the Election Commission.
Meanwhile, Rakshya Bam, another prominent Gen Z activist and a leading anti-corruption voice during the protests, has been advocating for reform within the existing political system rather than its replacement. She has been calling for stronger accountability, an end to corruption, and the elimination of gender, social, and religious inequalities instead of a complete system overhaul.
