KATHMANDU: Former Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has called on Gen-Z and other young citizens to take charge of the country’s leadership through elections rather than street movements.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Dr. Bhattarai said that the recent transformative and sacrificial movements have made it clear that the country is searching for young leadership. He urged youths to register their names on the voters’ list as the first step toward political participation.
He also appealed to Nepalis at home and abroad to ensure their timely registration in accordance with the rules, emphasizing the need to end the cycle of old political patterns.
Suggesting electoral reforms, the former prime minister said the government and the Election Commission should make 16 the uniform age for acquiring citizenship and voting rights. Likewise, he proposed lowering the minimum age to contest elections from 25 to either 18 or at least 21 years.
Dr. Bhattarai warned that if Nepal continues to rely on outdated electoral laws, the upcoming election could become “like a wedding where the groom himself is kept away,” referring to the exclusion of Gen-Z activists from leadership roles despite their prominent role in recent movements.
Comment