Fri Oct 31 17:29:36 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
Nepal is gearing up for general elections scheduled for March 5, 2026, following the dissolution of parliament and the appointment of a caretaker government led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki. Seventeen new political parties have applied to register with the Election Commission (EC) to contest the elections, including two claiming to represent Gen-Z protesters. Voter registration has surged, and the EC is seeking national and international observers for the election.
News Article:
Nepal Sees Surge in New Parties and Voter Registration Ahead of 2026 General Election
Kathmandu, Nepal – October 31, 2025 – Nepal is abuzz with political activity as the country prepares for general elections on March 5, 2026. The Election Commission (EC) has confirmed that seventeen new political parties have applied for registration to participate in the upcoming elections. This brings the total number of registered parties to 124.
According to EC spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, seven parties applied after the election date was announced on September 12th, while the remaining ten applied before. Notably, two of the newly formed parties claim to represent the interests of the Gen-Z protesters who played a significant role in the recent political upheaval, leading to the resignation of the K.P. Sharma Oli-led government.
Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was appointed as the caretaker Prime Minister by President Ramchandra Paudel after Oli’s resignation. Subsequently, at Prime Minister Karki’s recommendation, the House of Representatives was dissolved, paving the way for fresh elections.
In addition to the surge in new political formations, voter registration has also seen a significant uptick. The EC reports over 85,000 new voters have registered as of today, with an average of 5,000 to 6,000 new registrations daily. Voter registration remains open until November 16th.
The Election Commission is also inviting applications from national and international organizations interested in observing the general election. Interested parties must submit their applications and required documentation to the EC by November 12th. The EC is currently reviewing the documents submitted by the newly registered parties for formal approval.
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