The Nepal Weekly 
November 25, 2025
By TNW correspondent
With largest single party in dissolved parliament -Nepali Congress – deciding to participate in the March 5 general election, parties have shifted focus from other points of politics to the issue of being more competitive through picking up right candidate in right constituency.
The issue would be under top leaders’ absolute control or pocket or fovour-zone or whim in the past. This time, however, because of direct impact of Gen Z revolution, that particular issue has to be addressed with utmost care for it singly will be a determining factor for the existence of parties concerned.
Public dislike of old faces in politics is a reality that none could forget in this regard, noted a senior journalist in Kathmandu Monday. “No political party, old or new, independent or ideological, joining the electoral process can afford to fight against the anti-incumbency trend.”
“No way out without joining electoral process for resuming legitimacy in Nepal governance and resuming parliamentary procedure as per people’s mandate”, said a senior politician in Kathmandu.
“Similarly, no way out without picking up fresh leaders for candidacy in election and ensuring consistency and continuity of party in post- Gen Z-revolution-politics,” observed a senior former parliamentarian.
Several top leaders have taken the point seriously and have pledged to demonstrate their openness for offering electoral opportunities to new particularly youths’ hands. Others have indicated this time they would be happy remaining as a guardian of the party remaining far away from the heat of polls and politics.
Former Premier Oli is the only leader at the moment who does not buy that view. He is still driving CPN UML towards opposition to the Interim Government while rejecting the polls; he seeks re-establishment of dissolved parliament.
His own people under the leadership of another leader Ishwar Pokhrel are privately challenging it. They would formalize their stand at the general convention of the party in near future.
The issue of right candidacy is a complicated one: it has to balance between diversity and popularity, electability and capability and local endorsement or leader’s pick-up-persons.
