In First Address To Nation, Nepal PM Karki Calls On Citizens To Participate In March 2026 Polls

Last Updated:September 25, 2025, 21:52 IST

Karki called upon all Nepali citizens to participate in the upcoming elections in March 2026 and said a peaceful environment was needed for free and fair polls.

Nepal PM Sushila Karki addressing the nation on Thursday. (Reuters)

Nepal’s interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Thursday addressed the nation for the first time since taking charge, where she called on Nepali citizens, political parties and relevant stakeholders to actively participate in the March 2026 elections to find a way out of the complex situation caused by the violent Gen-Z protests earlier this month.

Nepal experienced a tumultuous week when angry Gen-Z citizens took to the streets against a social media ban, demanding accountability from authorities against rampant corruption and economic mismanagement. The protests escalated when police opened fire on protesters, resulting in the toppling of KP Sharma Oli’s government.

During her address, Karki said, “To find a way out of this complex situation, the government has already started preliminary work for the general election by holding the election in a free, fair and fear-free environment by March 5, after discussing with the Election Commission officials the necessary manpower, budget, election materials, security and legal arrangements.”

She further said that Nepal’s election law has been amended to provide voting rights to the younger generation who have reached the age of 18, and to extend the voter list. She called upon all Nepali citizens to participate in the upcoming elections.

“I would like to call on all Nepali sisters and brothers to participate enthusiastically in the upcoming elections of the House of Representatives and to select qualified people’s representatives who can represent the aspirations of the youth for change. I also call on all political parties, civil society, the media and all relevant stakeholders to actively participate in the successful conduct of free, fearless and fair election,” Karki said in her appeal to the nation.

“A peaceful environment is essential for the conduct of the elections. Therefore, I request all sisters and brothers residing in all geographical areas of the country to maintain a peaceful environment with patience,” she added.

Karki was appointed as the head of the caretaker administration in Nepal following the resignation of former PM KP Sharma Oli after the violent protests, vowing to lead the country through a six-month transitional period leading up to the general election scheduled on March 5, 2026.

“Since the issues raised by the Gen-Z generation during the movement, including the amendment of Nepal’s constitution and governance system, are beyond the purview of the current interim government, I would like to urge the general Nepali people, including the young generation, who are in favour of change, to participate in the upcoming elections and amend the constitution through the constitutional process,” Karki clarified.

At least 59 protesters, 10 prisoners, and three policemen were killed in the recent protests in Nepal. Karki had earlier announced that those killed during the Gen Z protest on September 8 and 9 would be declared “martyrs”.

The interim government has set up a panel to investigate the violence. Rameshwore Khanal, who Karki put in charge of the finance ministry, said the three-member panel headed by retired judge Gauri Bahadur Karki had been given three months to complete the probe, according to Reuters.

(with inputs from agencies)

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Aveek Banerjee

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international…Read More

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international… Read More

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