“BLOOD WILL BRING CHANGE”
Helicopters have flown voter materials to snowbound mountain regions across Nepal, home to eight of the world’s 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest.
But all eyes will be focused on the hot farming plains youth of the capital, where all three prime ministerial hopefuls are contesting seats – a departure from past elections that focused on the capital Kathmandu.
KP Sharma Oli, the 74-year-old Marxist leader ousted as prime minister last year and seeking a return to power, is being challenged in his home constituency by former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, a 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician.
The Jhapa-5 constituency – with around 163,000 voters – will determine whether Oli secures his seat or whether Shah enters parliament.
Shah, from the centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has cast himself as a symbol of youth-driven political change, encouraging voters to “ring the bell” of change, in reference to the party symbol.
Also in the race as aspiring prime minister is Gagan Thapa, 49, the new head of the country’s oldest party, Nepali Congress, who has told AFP he wanted to end the “old age” club of revolving veteran leaders.
“At the Gen Z protest, people died – and their blood will bring change, we hope,” said Tek Bahadur Aale, 66, queuing to vote in Jhapa.
“We hope a government with good governance, no corruption comes this time.”
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/nepal-vote-parliament-election-protests-5971901
