New Elements In Politics

It is an interesting time in Nepali politics. Things have swiftly shifted, bringing new faces to the forefront. It will likely take some time for the general public to get accustomed to the new MPs in Parliament. Up in the heavens, idealistic leaders like B. P. Koirala and Madan Bhandari might be feeling disappointed with how their parties underperformed in the bygone election. If they were to really observe the current developments in Nepali politics, they would be even more shell-shocked by the rise of new parties that came to prominence within a short span without well-defined ideologies. The changing times hint at the idea that having a strong ideology does not always win you an election. 

The previous governments are blatantly accused of exercising cronyism and failing to govern effectively. It is a no-brainer that their multiple failures in establishing an ideal state have automatically transported the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) to the zenith. Merely focusing on the inaction of previous governments behind the RSP’s rise would be an absurd oversimplification. An acute observer would not bypass the role of social media, which has, of late, become a major element in shaping the narratives in Nepali politics. Some years down the line, the coming generations will find the Gen Z revolution both shocking and inspiring. Most of all, how social media became a definitive element will be an interesting case for them.

The downfall of the old forces started right after the Oli-led government banned social media platforms. Having been in the fray for so long, with decades of experience as career politicians, the major political actors were not expected to shut down the space that had started becoming a meeting point for all stakeholders. These days, analysts write on Twitter; people scroll through Facebook for news; journalists upload videos on YouTube; politicians relay information through their posts. Young people, who were deemed nonchalant about politics, widely protested the unpopular move by the Oli-led government. In less than forty-eight hours, the Gen Z group dismantled the coalition government, punishing the old guards for their arbitrary move, not to mention all the years spent failing to deliver despite always getting a strong mandate.

In the aftermath of the deadly revolt that resulted in 76 deaths, the interim government was formed under former Chief Justice Sushila Karki. What is interesting is that she was finalised as prime minister by Gen Z groups on a digital platform called Discord, the same platform where they had planned the protest against the government. Whatever happened in the last nine months or so, social media has been at the centre, establishing its space as a decisive force. The general public finds it tiresome to take inputs from the mainstream media because it is much easier to watch short content than to read mundane details. In an attempt to retain audiences, mainstream media have also been integrating online technology into their work settings.

This new shift in how we perceive information has amplified the risk of misinformation and disinformation. The younger generation feels thrilled by new announcements on social media without dissecting them from every possible angle. A generation so bent on concluding everything from social media barely wants to learn about governance. They are always seeking something that triggers their dopamine, and in doing so, their ability to think critically and form opinions wanes over time.