Gen Z activist Raksha Bam has said that young people are not demanding everything new, but are instead opposing wrong styles and regressive political tendencies.

Speaking at the Kantipur Conclave’s session ‘New Voices of New Republic’ on Tuesday, Bam said replacing one leader with another of the same mindset would not bring real change. “We do not want to remove one KP Oli only to bring another similar face. Change must also be reflected in political style and conduct,” she said.

Bam stressed that Gen Z possesses political awareness driven by the demand for good governance and a secure future within the country. “Everyone does not need to have a politician’s level of political consciousness. Civic-level awareness is enough,” she said.

She also criticised the narrative that frames politics solely in terms of ‘new versus old’, arguing that parties need internal reform and leadership transfer rather than mere generational change. “Leadership transfer does not mean Gen Z must come to power. It means removing the mentality and practices we are opposing,” she said.

Emphasising accountability, Bam said leaders are representatives of the people, not their owners, and should not approach voters with a sense of superiority. She added that she remains more comfortable on the streets than in parliament, saying sustained civic pressure from the streets strengthens democracy through constant questioning and demands for transparency.

In the same session, youth candidate Ajay Kushwaha said senior leaders, including Nepali Communist Party coordinator Pushpa Kamal Dahal, were preparing to step back after mentoring the younger generation. He said some top leaders may not contest the next election and argued that parties bringing forward young candidates reflected a willingness to listen to new voices.

Gen Z activist Majid Ansari said those involved in arson at Singha Durbar should be held accountable, stressing that protests must remain democratic. He said public anger intensified only after youths were killed by gunfire, leading to the collapse of the Oli government. Ansari also argued that outdated Panchayat-era laws had forced young people onto the streets and urged the next parliament to amend laws in line with the constitution.

Ansari further said Gen Z does not engage in personality worship, prioritising institutions, procedures and democratic values over individuals. “We have already rejected monarchy. What we want is a strong democracy, federalism and inclusion,” he said.

He added that he wants the people responsible for damaging Singha Durbar to be booked under the law.

Meanwhile, Gen Z activist Pradip Gyawali said he opposed divisions based on ‘new’ and ‘old’ in politics, arguing that political renewal requires both fresh vision and experienced leadership working together.