September 13th, 2025 - Nepal Sets March Elections Amid Protests and Criticism of Government Actions

Nepal’s government announced late Friday that it would hold elections in early March 2026 to replace its legislators, who are currently halfway through their terms. This decision follows widespread protests that led to the government’s collapse, and critics argue that it could further undermine Nepal’s already fragile democratic institutions. The elections, scheduled for March 5, were determined by the newly appointed caretaker Prime Minister Sushila Karki, who was sworn in just hours before the announcement. Karki, a former chief justice of Nepal’s Supreme Court, stepped in after Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli fled office in the face of the unrest.

The protests, which were fueled by anger over government corruption, have resulted in more than 50 deaths and widespread destruction. Demonstrations erupted across the country, with police using excessive force to suppress dissent, and the government’s decision to ban social media further exacerbated the situation. The protesters’ demands for political reform, along with the violence, forced the government into rapid action, including dissolving Parliament and appointing an interim prime minister.

Sushila Karki, who is now tasked with overseeing the country’s transition, began her duties with a visit to the Civil Service Hospital in Kathmandu, where injured students from the protests were receiving care. Despite her efforts to engage with the public, she faced criticism for the unconstitutionality of her appointment and the rushed nature of the elections. Neel Kantha Uprety, a former chief election commissioner, expressed doubts about the legitimacy of the process, describing it as deeply flawed but also recognizing that no better option was immediately available.

In the wake of the unrest, the country’s major political parties are divided over the government’s actions. The Maoist party and the Nepali Congress, two of the largest political factions, issued statements condemning the dissolution of Parliament, claiming that it undermined the constitutional framework and the democratic process. The Nepal Bar Association also joined the protests, arguing that the government’s actions weakened the country’s hard-earned democratic gains. These widespread concerns highlight the deepening political instability in Nepal, with many demanding the immediate restoration of Parliament.

Meanwhile, the logistical and political challenges of organizing elections in such a volatile environment are immense. The government’s infrastructure was severely damaged in the violence, with official records and government offices destroyed in fires that consumed much of Kathmandu’s central business district. The country’s already weak infrastructure and political systems now face even greater strain, and experts like Uprety believe that the March election date is highly ambitious. He stresses that immediate preparations must begin, but the absence of a functioning Parliament makes this process more complicated.

Despite these obstacles, there is still a sense of urgency among officials to hold the elections as quickly as possible. However, the appointment of a new election commissioner and the acquisition of materials and security for the polls will require significant resources. With no Parliament in place to approve these measures, the government faces a daunting task in ensuring the elections are conducted in a fair and orderly manner. Political observers argue that the priority should be to bring all factions together to ensure that the electoral process is as inclusive and transparent as possible in order to preserve the country’s fragile democracy.

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster) - Consummate (adj, KAHN-suh-mut) - Someone or something described as consummate is very skilled or accomplished. Consummate can also mean “of the highest degree” and “complete in every detail.” The adjective is always used before the noun it describes.

Example: Ever the consummate professional, the planner ensured that no one attending the event was aware of all the elements that had not gone as planned.