Dhanusha, Jan 29: The political landscape of Madhesh has shifted to some extent this election cycle, indicating growing political awareness among the younger generation.
Youth candidates are increasingly asserting the need for their representation in Parliament and the government, seeking to test and validate this demand through voters’ trust and confidence.
A review of the candidates registered for the upcoming House of Representatives (HoR) election scheduled for March 5 shows that the September 8–9 Gen Z movement and its agenda have influenced Madhesh politics. Young people are now directly intervening in political processes, and this trend has begun to take shape in the region as well.
However, Gen Z activists argue that the current list of candidates does not fully reflect their aspirations for meaningful youth participation in national politics. While the representation is not complete or entirely satisfactory, they view it as a positive step. At the same time, the list suggests that politics continues to favor those with access to resources, political power, and influence.
Earlier, political parties had attempted to address the sentiments of the Gen Z movement through their proportional representation lists for the March 5 election. Nevertheless, most of the nominees still reflected entrenched access to political networks.
Across Madhesh Province, a total of 58 candidates under the first-past-the-post electoral system for the House of Representatives election belong to the Gen Z age group. A gender-based analysis reveals a significant imbalance: 56 of the candidates are male, while only two are women. According to the Election Commission, 41 of these candidates are independents, while 17 represent 12 different political parties.
Although the number of Gen Z candidates remains relatively low, it is considered significant in the context of Madhesh’s local political history.
The Ujyalo Nepal Party and Janamat Party have each fielded three youth candidates, while the Shram Sanskriti Party has nominated two.
Similarly, the CPN (UML), Rastriya Swatantra Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Nepali Communist Party, Aam Janata Party (single election symbol), Janadhikar Party, Janata Loktantrik Party Nepal, Nepal Workers and Peasants’ Party, and the Nepali Party for Nepal have each ensured one youth candidacy.
Ujyalo Nepal Party has nominated 26-year-old Shrawan Paswan from Siraha Constituency No. 3, 28-year-old Manoj Kumar Gupta from Mahottari Constituency No. 1, and 25-year-old Ramakant Prasad Patel from Rautahat Constituency No. 2.
The Janamat Party has nominated 27-year-old Birendra Mahto from Mahottari Constituency No. 1, 28-year-old Sonu Kushwaha from Rautahat Constituency No. 2 and 28-year-old Ram Kalyan Raut from Rautahat Constituency No. 4 as candidates.
The Shram Sanskriti Party has nominated 26-year-old Pankaj Kumar Thakur from Siraha Constituency No. 4 and 28-year-old Wasim Shesh from Parsa Constituency No 1 as candidates.
The CPN-UML has nominated 27-year-old Amanish Kumar Yadav, son of former MP Shiva Pujan Yadav, as a candidate from Sarlahi Constituency No. 4.
Candidates from this area include Gagan Thapa, President of the Nepali Congress, and Amaresh Singh, leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party and former member of the House of Representatives.
The Rastriya Swatantra Party has picked 28-year-old Bablu Gupta, who has served as the Minister of Youth and Sports in the interim government, as a candidate from Siraha Constituency No. 1.
The Nepali Communist Party has fielded 27-year-old Ajay Kushwaha in Bara Constituency No. 4. The Rastriya Prajatantra Party has nominated 27-year-old Ajay Kumar Das in Saptari Constituency No. 2, while the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party has nominated Nilam Kumari Yadav from the same constituency.
According to sociologist Neel Bahadur Lumre, the common characteristic of these young candidates is ‘dissatisfaction with the style of the so-called legacy political parties and intervention with new ideas’.
Sociologist Lumre considers it innovative to engage in practices different from traditional politics, such as reaching out to voters with good governance, employment, education, health, and local development as the main agenda, and maintaining contact with voters through social media, face-to-face meetings, and community discussions.
Political analyst Shankar Mahato said the presence of Gen Z candidates is a sign of long-term change in political culture rather than just winning or losing in the electoral race.
“Whether these youths win or not, their participation will inspire more young people to engage in the upcoming elections,” Mahto, the political analyst, says.
