India’s diplomatic nod to Nepal’s parliamentary elections highlights the close bilateral bond as the Himalayan neighbor navigates turbulent politics. On Thursday, voters turned out in a peaceful exercise of democracy, prompting congratulations from New Delhi to PM Sushila Karki and all involved.
In a briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal underscored India’s longstanding backing for Nepal’s stability. ‘Nepali citizens enthusiastically used their democratic rights today. We welcome the successful culmination of these elections,’ he said, noting the challenging backdrop of last year’s upheavals.
New Delhi aided logistically as promised, reflecting its commitment to Nepal’s progress. Looking ahead, Jaiswal anticipates enhanced people-to-people and governmental relations with the incoming leadership.
The Election Commission pegged turnout at approximately 60 percent preliminarily—potentially the lowest in over three decades if finalized. Acting CEC Ram Prasad Bhandari highlighted ongoing data collection, with counts starting post-collection. Helicopters will airlift boxes from remote areas.
Nepal’s 1.89 crore electorate included a surge of young voters, with two-thirds of 9.15 lakh new registrants from Gen-Z brackets. Polls occurred at 23,112 centers, featuring 3,406 FPTP and 3,135 PR candidates.
Triggered by the Gen-Z protests ousting KP Oli’s regime, these early elections followed the dissolution of the lower house under Karki’s interim setup. Boycotts in spots stemmed from development grievances, urging governmental introspection.
This electoral chapter underscores Nepal’s resilience amid flux, with India’s supportive stance poised to bolster regional harmony and shared prosperity.