New Generation of Politicians Emerges in Nepal's Parliament Following Recent Elections

The results of the House of Representatives election, held amidst a special political situation created by the 'Gen-Z' movement on Bhadra 23 and 24 last year, are nearing completion. While results from most constituencies have been announced, the counting process for proportional representation is still ongoing. However, this election has marked a strong entry of a new generation into Nepali politics.

Young candidates under the age of 35 have achieved remarkable success in this House of Representatives election. After a parliament dominated by the older generation, a significant presence of the new generation will now be visible.

Especially, many young candidates fielded by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) have won in various constituencies with impressive votes. Their victories have sent a message of wanting to give opportunities to new thinking.

It remains to be seen how well these young parliamentarians who have entered the parliament can meet the expectations set by the people. The results of this election have injected new energy into the debate on generational transition in Nepali politics. Twenty candidates under 35 years old from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) have been elected.

Similarly, a total of 23 candidates under 35 years old have won direct elections this time: one from the Nepali Congress, one from the Shram Sanskriti Party, and one from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party. Leading the list of MPs under 35 is 30-year-old Sobita Gautam. Gautam, a central member of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), born in Jamune, Tamakoshi Rural Municipality, Dolakha, was victorious from Chitwan-3. She secured victory with 59,277 votes. Her closest competitor, Renu Dahal, received 20,615 votes. At 30 years old, she has become a member of the House of Representatives for the second time, having won from Kathmandu-2 in the 2079 House of Representatives election. Gautam, a lawyer with a Bachelor's degree in Law, won with a massive margin.

Another MP under thirty-five is Sulabh Kharel. Born in Butwal in Bhadra 2054 BS, Kharel became an MP at the age of 28. He won the House of Representatives election from Rupandehi-2, securing 56,550 votes. His closest competitor, former Finance Minister and CPN (UML) candidate Bishnu Paudel, received 12,861 votes. Kharel studied for a five-year B.A.-LL.B. at Nepal Law Campus.

Rastriya Swatantra Party candidate Rubina Acharya has won the House of Representatives election in Morang Constituency No. 6. Born in Biratnagar, Acharya secured 55,513 votes, while her closest competitor, Nepali Congress candidate Dr. Shekhar Koirala, received 12,850 votes.

Likewise, Badankumar Bhandari has won the House of Representatives election in Kavrepalanchok Constituency No. 2 from the Rastriya Swatantra Party. Born in Bhumlu Rural Municipality-2, Bhandari secured victory with 53,344 votes. His closest competitor, Nepali Congress candidate Madhu Prasad Acharya, received 17,868 votes. Bhandari is an e-commerce entrepreneur and media person. The 33-year-old Bhandari has completed a Bachelor's degree (B.A.).

29-year-old Nisha Dangi, elected from Jhapa-1 for the Rastriya Swatantra Party, also became an MP at a young age. She was an MP through proportional representation in the 2079 House of Representatives. Dangi got the opportunity to contest in the direct election this time and won with 45,680 votes. Dangi's closest competitor, Nepali Congress candidate Keshav Raj Pandey, received 10,550 votes. Born in Bhadrapur Municipality, Jhapa, in 2053 BS, Dangi completed her Bachelor's in Social Work from Jaya Multiple Campus, Kathmandu, and a Master's in Journalism from Tribhuvan University.

26-year-old Manish Khanal has also been elected as a member of the House of Representatives from Nawalpur-2 representing the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). He won with 41,347 votes. His closest competitor, UML candidate Til Bahadur Mahat Chhetri, finished as runner-up with 15,755 votes. Khanal, a resident of Madhyabindu Municipality-6, was born on Ashar 11, 2056 BS. He studied Law at Nepal Law Campus.

28-year-old Bablu Gupta has also been elected. He secured victory as a member of the House of Representatives from Siraha-1 representing the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). Gupta, active in social service, has completed his Master's degree. He won with 41,322 votes. His closest competitor, Ram Sundar Chaudhary of the Nepali Congress, received 9,774 votes.

Among the elected candidates under 35 from RSP, Santosh Rajbanshi won from Morang-4. From Siraha-2, 30-year-old Shivshankar Yadav of RSP was elected. Also from RSP, 33-year-old Tapeshwor Yadav was elected from Siraha-4. In Mahottari-2, 34-year-old Deepak Kumar Sah was elected. From Mahottari-3, 33-year-old Ujjwal Kumar Jha was elected.

Rastriya Swatantra Party candidate 29-year-old Sasmit Pokharel was elected from Kathmandu-5. Born in Kathmandu on Falgun 1, 2052 BS, Pokharel has a Bachelor's degree in Law. He is a central member and spokesperson for RSP. Pokharel has experience working as a co-specialist at the Kathmandu Metropolitan City Office, implementing services, programs, and projects, and achieving results. He also served as an advisor to the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Balen Shah. Pokharel has also worked as a chief assistant in the MP's office. He has office management experience in policy research, grievance management, team mobilization, and coordination to complete tasks.

25-year-old Prashant Upreti of the Rastriya Swatantra Party won the election in Makwanpur-2. Born in Makwanpur in 2057 BS, Upreti is a tourism entrepreneur by profession. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Management.

Another elected candidate aged 34 is Sagar Dhakal. He was elected from Gulmi-1 representing RSP. Dhakal, whose permanent address is Pipaltaneta, Satwawati Rural Municipality-6, Gulmi, is an engineer by profession.

Another MP under thirty-five is 31-year-old Sushant Baidik, elected from Pyuthan-1. Another famous name under 35 elected from Kathmandu-1 is Ranju Neupane (Darshana), 30 years old. Ranju, who emerged as an alternative political voice, has studied up to the graduate level. Another elected MP from RSP is 34-year-old Som Sharma. He was elected from Baglung-2. RSP candidate Jhabilal Dumre from Syangja-2 won with 25,354 votes.

Rastriya Swatantra Party candidate 30-year-old Ramji Yadav from Saptari-2 won with 28,404 votes. RSP candidate KP Khanal from Kailali-2 won with 19,057 votes. The 26-year-old Khanal has been active in social campaigns for 13 years. He has led nationwide sanitation campaigns such as 'Clean Kasthamandap' and 'Kathmandu Trash Collection'. Through the 'Maina Devi Foundation', he has led humanitarian campaigns such as establishing an orphanage in Bajura, supporting more than 200 needy families during the Corona period, and 'Bhookai Chha Humla'.

33-year-old Tapeshwor Yadav was elected from Siraha-4 representing the Rastriya Swatantra Party. 33-year-old Ujjwal Kumar Jha was elected from Mahottari-3. Similarly, 31-year-old Sushant Baidik, the candidate from Pyuthan-1, was elected. 32-year-old Yogesh Gauchan Thakali was elected from Mustang-1 representing the Nepali Congress. Likewise, 34-year-old Gyan Bahadur Shahi was elected from Jumla-1 representing the Rastriya Prajatantra Party. 29-year-old Aren Rai was elected from Khotang-1 representing the Shram Sanskriti Party.