Nepali Leaders Urge Citizens to Participate in Historic General Election

(MENAFN) Nepalese leaders have called on citizens to ensure a smooth and successful voting process on 5 March, marking the country’s first general election since deadly youth-led protests toppled the government last September.

In a televised address on Monday, Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki encouraged people to visit polling stations, acknowledging that the election follows a “complex, sensitive and challenging” period. She described the vote as a chance for citizens to shape the nation’s future, saying, “It is only with your active participation that our democracy will survive.”

Nearly 19 million eligible voters, including 800,000 first-time voters, will cast ballots for the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament. Over 3,400 candidates are contesting 275 seats, with more than 1,000 under the age of 40.

Security authorities have so far reported peaceful election activities, though 133 people were arrested for “anti-election activities,” with 70 still in custody as of Sunday evening. Among those detained is Durga Prasai, a controversial political figure previously arrested on multiple charges over the past two years.

President Ram Chandra Poudel emphasized that citizens have a shared responsibility to ensure the success of the election. He urged voters to seize the “historic opportunity to make the journey of federal democratic republic more comprehensive, credible and consolidated.”

For security, Nepal has mobilized approximately 77,000 police officers, 134,000 election police personnel, and nearly 80,000 army personnel to oversee polling across the country.

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