Between The Devil And The Deep Sea

With the CPN-UML petitioning the Supreme Court for the restoration of the House of Representatives, which was dissolved in the wake of the Gen Z revolt, a clear polarization has emerged among political parties regarding strategies to bring the derailed political process back on track. The Sushi Kari-led government, formed on the strength of the Gen Z revolt, had announced 5 March 2026 as the date for a fresh election but the UML's action to move the court suggests that there is no consensus among major political parties on the future course of action.

The Nepali Congress and the newly renamed Nepali Communist Party have expressed their intention to participate in the upcoming elections, while the main opposition party, the UML, has taken a contradictory position by seeking the court's intervention to reinstate the parliament on the one hand and registering itself with the Election Commission (EC) on the other. The UML has maintained that it is impossible to hold a fresh election in the present state of anarchy and insecurity.

Constitutional amendments

 It considers that the Sushi Kari government formed after the Gen Z revolt is unconstitutional and its decision to dissolve the parliament is ipso facto void.  This is why this party has been taking out street protests demanding restoration of the parliament so that necessary constitutional amendments can be introduced to address the grievances of the Gen Zest and other sections of the society without undoing the democratic achievements of the past decades. 

 However, the UML has also revealed a plan ‘B' last week by registering the party with the EC to fulfill its eligibility for contesting the elections. This shows that it will also participate in the election if compelled by the circumstances. As the dust raised by the Gen Z revolt settles, Nepal's political parties are finding themselves in an altogether different and hostile political terrain, with Sushi Karki on the central stage of politics dictating the course of events on behalf of the Gen Zest.  But the tragic part of the drama is that she has been able to please neither the Gen Zest nor the political parties. 

The Gen Zest appear eager to continue the revolt and establish a de facto power center. But the parties want to accommodate the Gen Zest within the present constitutional framework. Pressed by two competing aspirations, she finds herself between the devil and the deep sea. The election process appears to have caught momentum with visible progress in updating electoral rolls, coordinating with local bodies, mobilizing security agencies and preparing the logistics.  Despite these achievements, ensuring a peaceful environment for the election is going to be a tough job for the present government. 

Political parties play a pivotal role in any democracy. But the kind of party phobia the Gen Z groups are spreading and the poor level of trust between the parties and the government make it difficult to believe that the election will be held within the declared time frame. There are multiple threats to free and fair elections. During the Gen Z revolt, more than 15,000 convicts have escaped from different prisons in the country. Some of them have been recaptured or have voluntarily surrendered to the authorities, but thousands of them remain at large. There are instances of these criminals committing crimes in society.

 Moreover, thousands of modern firearms and ammunition were looted during the revolt, a large number of them remaining unaccounted for. There is a high risk of these weapons being used to disrupt peace during the election process.  In addition, there is yet another factor complicating the electoral environment.  The election is just around the corner but neither the Gen Z groups nor the parties seem enthusiastic about it. The Gen Zest are facing an identity crisis, while the parties find themselves compelled to face an election when their popularity is at its lowest ebb. If the election takes place on the specified date, neither the new parties representing the Gen Zest nor the old traditional parties are likely to garner enough seats to form a stable government. 

Popular base

Though the Gen Zest overthrew the government in a two-day-long uprising, dislodging the established political parties from their stronghold will be hard not to crack. The organisational networks and the popular support base of major political parties, which were in power for decades, remain intact, though the image of these parties has now been severely tarnished.  Even after suffering incredible loss in the uprising, the UML is already up and about, bringing tens of thousands of people to the streets. This party is also questioning the democratic character and legitimacy of the Gen Z uprising for allowing disruptive forces to inflict destruction on sacred heritage sites and sensitive national data centers.

 In such a situation, it will be advisable for all the stakeholders to stay prepared for either embracing the election if the court endorses the dissolution of the parliament, or to seek a solution from within the constitution if the apex court orders the restoration of the parliament. The election process is already in motion.  If the polls take place peacefully, the country will get a new mandate. If the Supreme Court overrules the election, a constitutional avenue will remain open for the cultivation of a democratic culture in the country.

(Dr. Bharadwaj is the former ambassador and former chairperson of Gorkhapatra Corporation. bharadwajnarad@gmail.com.)