Encouraging 100 Days

The government formed in the wake of the Gen Z movement of September 8 and 9 completed 100 days in office on Saturday. Although it was constituted amid mounting pressure to address several challenges raised by the movement, it completed its first 100 days smoothly. However, it now faces the crucial responsibilities of holding polls and handing over power to the elected government within the next 100 days. Over the past three months, the interim government formed to conduct the elections to the House of Representatives (HoR) and hand over power to the people-elected government has worked in line with the spirit of the movement. While intensifying preparations to hold the elections on March 5, 2026, the government has also taken important steps to promote good governance and control corruption.  It has already held a few rounds of talks with the representatives of major political parties and formed a high-level dialogue committee to hold further talks with the parties to ensure broader participation in the polls. 

The key demands of the movement were corruption control, good governance, and the creation of job opportunities. The government has already initiated work in these areas by reviving the pending corruption cases. In just three months, over 30 cases involving powerful politicians have reached the courts.   Likewise, the government has declared 45 individuals killed during the Gen-Z movement as martyrs and provided compensation to their families. It has decided to provide identity cards to all injured individuals and bear their treatment costs. Owing to these and other pro-people decisions, the government has enjoyed a considerable public support. Above all, it has managed to safeguard the constitution and succeeded in maintaining law and order.   

Its performance so far is encouraging, even though a section of society and politicians continue to doubt whether it will succeed in its key mission of holding the election on the scheduled date. In her message marking the completion of 100 days in office, Prime Minister Sushila Karki has assured the nation that the government remains firmly committed to conducting the elections on March 5, 2026. She dismissed the rumours of postponements as baseless and misleading, stating that the elections are the only safe path to stability and a new era for Nepal. Reiterating that good governance and elections are the twin pillars of her government's vision, she said that good governance and free, fair elections are the sole focus of the interim government. 

She also urged the youth who waged the movement to actively participate in the election process and channel their anger and aspirations through the ballot paper, noting that only ballot papers could provide lasting solutions.  She has also addressed the concerns raised by some political parties over the election security, stating that the government has taken all necessary measures, including the approval of the 'Integrated Election Security Plan', and the mobilisation of the Nepali Army.  She also cited the achievements made in restoring law and order and rebuilding the police damaged during the movement. She also took the opportunity to highlight the government's economic initiatives and progress made in controlling wasteful expenditure. Now that the government is all set to hold elections on the scheduled date, all political parties and others should cooperate with it to make its mission of holding polls a success, and ending transition, because only elections could bring stability, safeguard democracy and constitution.