- Nepal is holding general elections on 5 March, with nearly 19 million people, including 800,000 first-time voters, set to elect members of the 275-seat House of Representatives.
- The elections follow violent, youth-led protests last September that led to the collapse of the previous government and the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, exposing widespread anger over corruption and high youth unemployment.
- The contest is largely seen as a generational battle between the political old guard, including Oli, and a new generation represented by figures like rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah and Nepali Congress leader Gagan Thapa.
- A major focus of the election campaigns is addressing Nepal's severe jobs crisis, with youth unemployment at 20.6 per cent, the highest in South Asia and Southeast Asia.
- The interim administration, led by former chief justice Sushila Karki, has urged participation and calm, with the army overseeing voting due to concerns over weapons stolen during last year's protests.
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Rapper-mayor leads PM race as Nepal votes to replace government felled by Gen Z protests
