Young Nepalis hope post-uprising election candidates shun ‘same old patterns’
While all the parties have pledged economic growth and job creation, thousands are leaving Nepal each day in search of a better life
The 28-year-old still bears scars on his head, hand and abdomen from the violence that engulfed Kathmandu during Nepal’s Gen Z uprising, when thousands took to the streets demanding good governance and an end to corruption.
It was here, in front of the seat of power, where many young protesters believed their voices should have been heard when gunfire rang out.
For millions raised amid revolving-door governments and ageing political elites, the vote is a test of whether a generational shift can lift one of the world’s poorest economies and deliver stability.
“This election is the best way to move forward,” Bhusal said, who had returned after studying in Australia months before the protest. “This might be a turning point, and there is a small light of hope.”