As Nepal’s major political parties stand divided over whether to go for elections on March 5 or call for the reinstatement of the dissolved House of Representatives, various Gen Z groups have also assumed opposite stances, adding to the woes of the interim government.

The Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML—the first and second largest parties, respectively, in the dissolved House—have joined hands in favour of reinstating the House, while other two major political forces, the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) and the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) are for election on time.

The Gen Z uprising had overthrown the Congress-UML coalition government. President Ramchandra Paudel had then dissolved the House on the recommendation of the Sushila Karki interim government formed in the aftermath of the youth-led revolt.

However, the government, formed with the backing of the Gen Z groups, has faced additional challenges as some of the youth groups have not cooperated with it to conduct the polls.

In an address to the nation upon completing 100 days in the office on Saturday, Prime Minister Karki reiterated her commitment to hold an election and tried to dispel the hearsays casting doubts on timely polls.

“There are rumours that even political parties do not want elections on March 5 and that preparations by the Election Commission have been insufficient,” Karki had said during the address. She added that the state agencies had laid strong ground to conduct polls as per the schedule.

Many party leaders and analysts, however, cast doubt on the country’s overall security situation.

“Today, from this platform, I want to make it clear to the country and the world that the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5 is no longer just a date on the calendar,” Karki said.

However, multiple Gen Z groups do not appear convinced by her assurances.

On Monday, a Gen Z group led by Miraj Dhungana held protests in Kathmandu demanding a government involving all the stakeholders including the Gen Z and civil society representatives.

The group had organised a press conference on Sunday to announce the protests claiming that the interim government formed on the back of the Gen Z movement had betrayed the spirit of the September revolt.

Gen Z leaders close to Dhungana claimed that the Karki administration failed to work as per the spirit of the movement stating that the Gen Z revolt was staged not just to prepone the 2027 election to 2026.

“The movement was organised not just to conduct the 2027 elections ahead in 2026,” said Harish Bhatta, a Gen Z activist who is close to Dhungana. “This government does not appear to be offering a way out. Why is Sushila so fixated on elections?”

On October 18, Dhungana had announced his political party amid a programme held in Kathmandu. During the press conference held for the announcement of the party formation, he had argued that they had not launched the party to contest elections.

But it is not only the Dhungana-led group that has stood against the election of late.

In an interview with Kantipur TV, Sudan Gurung, a prominent face of the Gen Z uprising, argued for the House reinstatement on the condition that changes are made in the constitution. He has also been arguing that the Gen Z groups won’t let the election happen unless their demands are fulfilled.

To be sure, however, not all the Gen Z groups are against the election. Monika Niraula, of the Gen Z Alliance, for instance, argues that there is no alternative to a timely election. But the groups also urge the government to fulfill those demands that it could before the election.

“Reopening the files of corruption cases that have gathered dust and addressing the concerns of Gen Z martyrs’ families are some of the demands which the government can fulfill before the election,” Niraula said.

Political analysts believe that the forces that are against the election will get sidelined if the government and the major political forces join hands with a commitment to hold elections on time. However, if the political forces themselves lobby for House restoration, then the groups seeking instability will get room to maneuver, they say.

“There is no alternative to the election on time,” said Udhyab Pyakurel, a political analyst and sociologist.

Meanwhile, another Gen Z leader Rakshya Bam has accused some youth leaders including Gurung and Dhungana of trying to derail the ongoing election process.

“One Gen Z friend, who did not even join the September 8 protests, is declaring the interim government ‘lazy’ and calling for House reinstatement and an all-party government,” she wrote on social media. “There is another Gen Z ‘elder brother’ as well. A few days ago, on Kantipur TV’s Fireside, he too presented the House reinstatement and all-party government as an alternative. And then he himself went on to say, ‘Do you think we will let you come?’”

She said the idea of House reinstatement had already been left far behind as the political course has moved far ahead. “Rather than moving backwards, we must seek a way forward—by securing a new mandate and providing the country with a solution through a new Parliament, where our issues can be addressed,” Bam wrote.

Meanwhile, Bhawana Raut, another Gen Z representative, has objected to the remarks made by Bam about Gen Z leader Miraj Dhungana. Challenging Bam, Raut wrote a status herself.

“Whether the issues he [Dhungana] has raised are justified or not, and whether he should be supported or not, can certainly be a matter of debate,” Raut wrote on social media. “But saying that he does not have the right to raise these demands simply because he did not join the protests is a mockery of democracy.”

Raut, however, has stood in favour of the election on March 5.

“Only the elected lawmakers can make any changes in a constitution,” Raut has written. “Therefore, now put all the focus on the elections.”

Stating that Gen Z movement should not be a matter of mockery in history, she requested one and all to go to the election, “which is our strongest weapon.”