By Sunil Babu Pant
The air in Kathmandu still carries the ghost of smoke from last month’s upheaval. A new government is sworn in, led by the beacon of integrity, former Chief Justice ‘Sushila Karki’, installed by the raw, undeniable force of the ‘Gen Z revolution’. This isn’t merely a political transition; it’s a desperate, existential pause for a republic choked by its own political class. The youth have delivered a powerful mandate: ‘govern with integrity, or face the consequences.’
For too long, the so-called democratic parties have been democracy’s assassins. Their chronic ‘corruption’, naked transactionalism, and brazen refusal to relinquish power—even in death—have poisoned the wells of public trust. The Gen Z uprising wasn’t a demand for a new flavor of politician, but for an entirely new political contract based on ‘accountability’.
The Interim Mandate: A Race Against Time ः
Prime Minister Karki’s task is monumental yet narrowly defined: hold free, fair, and credible ‘general elections by March 2026’, and simultaneously lay the groundwork for a genuine fight against impunity. The nation is watching the three-pronged challenge:
1. Justice for the Fallen: The interim government must follow through on its promise to investigate the deadly crackdown and hold accountable those responsible for the at least ’75+ lives lost’ and the widespread destruction of public and private property. This is a moral necessity and a key component of restoring faith in the state’s justice system.
2. ‘Curbing Corruption:’ The new cabinet, composed of respected figures like Rameshwar Khanal and Kulman Ghising, must make a clear, initial dent in the culture of corruption. This isn’t about long-term systemic reform, but ‘quick, high-profile wins’ to prove this government is different.
3. ‘Ensuring the Polls:’ The utmost priority is delivering the election. This means a secure environment, logistical clarity, and enacting ordinances like opening voter registration, especially for the young people whose political awakening drove this change.
Navigating the Internal Sabotage
The greater danger now lies not in foreign conspiracies—which often serve as a convenient scapegoat for internal failures—but in the familiar, venomous machinations of Nepal’s own domestic politics. The sight of key youth figures, like ‘Sudhan Gurung’ of Hami Nepal, now becoming entangled in political optics, risks discrediting the authenticity of the movement and fueling dangerous theories of ‘foreign interference’.
We must not allow the actions of a few individuals, or the organizational background of an NGO, to tarnish the legitimacy of the hundreds of thousands who took to the streets. The true peril is the infiltration of this genuine youth-led anger by the same old vested interests. It is these shadowy political forces, masked as ‘protesters,’ who we suspect were behind the calculated acts of ‘arson and looting’—a deliberate attempt to sow chaos and justify a heavy-handed state response. The investigations into property damage must look inward and root out political opportunists trying to co-opt the Gen Z movement. ‘Indeed, if the political parties and the so-called democratic governments had truly fulfilled their duties and practiced genuine democracy, inclusion, and transparency, the need for NGOs to fill essential gaps in governance would not have arisen at all.’
A Message to All Actors
To the Political Parties:
To the leaders of the Nepali Congress, UML, Maoist, and the newer forces like Ra.Sa.Pa. and Ra.Pra.Pa., and to rising local figures like Balen Shah and Harka Sampang: the stakes have never been higher. Your decades of ego-driven feuds and failure to govern with a sense of national purpose have led us here. Your partisan squabbles now resemble a ‘mafia turf war’, fighting over a territory that is on the verge of total collapse. If you continue to prioritize internal factionalism and clientelist networks over transparent, pro-public governance, you will guarantee a national tragedy. ‘This interim period is your final, collective test.’ Reinvent yourselves as parties worthy of a mandate.
To the Gen Z Movement:
Your movement has made history; now, build the future. This interim government has ‘limited authority’ and a tight timeline. Do not pressure it with ‘unrealistic demands’ that it cannot fulfill. Doing so will only divert its focus from the primary task of holding a secure election, increasing the risk of national instability.
To the Government:
Prime Minister Karki and her cabinet, you must ‘keep your feet on the ground strong’. Do not get influenced by political parties, special interests like Balen or Sudhan, or by any ‘international forces’. Your sole focus must be on delivering a secure, fair election and ensuring that the initial steps against corruption are firm and irreversible.
The Stark Choice: Republic or Ruin ः
The security situation is fragile, highlighted by the staggering challenge of an estimated ‘15,000 prisoners having escaped’ during the chaos, with only half accounted for. If the Karki government, born from a public mandate and led by a non-partisan figure, is made to fail, the political vacuum that follows will be ‘catastrophic’.
The fear of a return to the past—either a renewed, ‘bloody civil conflict’ like the one that scarred a generation, or the reimposition of a monarchy under the guise of stability—is a rational assessment. Political instability and the perception of a failed republic have historically been the twin triggers for both.
Beyond Ideology: The Leader Nepal Deserves ः
We must cast aside the political binaries that paralyze us. I am not a rigid republican, nor am I a monarchist. I support an ‘honest, compassionate, pro-public leader’ in whatever format they appear—President, Prime Minister, or King. National unity with inclusivity is a must, but it must be built on the foundation of stable governance. If the democratic parties fail to deliver and a descent into civil war becomes the reality, a weary populace, including myself, will be compelled to choose a unifying force—even a return to a ‘stable monarchy”—over the devastation of a renewed conflict.
Prime Minister Karki and her cabinet hold the bridge to stability. Their success is a victory for the young republic; their failure is a guarantee of a slide into the abyss. ‘The future of the Republic hinges on the next six months of disciplined, national effort.’
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