Nepal Holds Post-Uprising National Election

Nepal held its first nationwide election since a violent, youth-led uprising forced the government from power in September. Nearly 19 million people were eligible to vote for 165 members of the House of Representatives. The election is a three-way contest, with the Nepal===Rastriya Swatantra Party, led by prime ministerial candidate Balen Shah, challenging the long-dominant Nepal===Nepali Congress and the Nepal===Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist). The uprising and subsequent election were driven by public frustration over widespread corruption and demands for greater government accountability. The new administration faces challenges including delivering on protest demands, tackling corruption, and managing ties with India and China.