Kathmandu, Dec 19: Minister for Communications and Information Technology and Government Spokesperson Jagadish Kharel has said that the country has moved from uncertainty towards stability and a positive direction.
Speaking jointly to the Nepal Television and the RSS on the occasion of the completion of 100 days of the incumbent government, Minister Kharel stated that the government has succeeded in normalizing the situation following the September 8–9 Gen Z movement.
He said the government brought the situation under control after the movement, which resulted in the deaths of 76 people and physical damages estimated at over Rs 84 billion.
According to the Minister, the formation of the current government was based on the mandate from the Gen Z movement, which had called for the conduct of the House of Representatives election on March 5, 2026, the establishment of good governance, and control of corruption.“The conduct of the election has been guaranteed,” he said, urging all concerned not to doubt it.
He said the Election Commission (EC) has already begun preparations for the March 5 election. Political parties are actively engaged in election-related activities, and citizens are showing enthusiasm for the polls. More than 800,000 new voters have been added to the voter list, while the management of required financial and human resources has been ensured.
Minister Kharel reiterated that the government is fully committed to holding the election within the announced timeline and has already allocated the required budget for the Election Commission and security agencies. Regarding good governance, he said the government is focused on austerity measures and has cut budgets for unnecessary projects. Efforts are on to improve the effectiveness of public service delivery.
The Minister added that no pressure or influence has been exerted on state bodies involved in corruption investigations. An independent environment has been ensured for the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), resulting in the registration of over 30 major corruption cases within the first 100 days of the government.
Similarly, the Central Investigation Bureau and the National Vigilance Centre are working independently and professionally, he claimed.
The Minister said a significant agreement has been reached with Gen Z groups to address the issues raised during the movement. He stated that Gen Z has officially been recognized as a people’s movement, dispelling confusion over whether it was a revolt or a movement. This recognition has already been published in the Nepal Gazette.
He further stated that the Commission has been formed to investigate the loss of lives and property during the movement. The Commission is functioning independently and in accordance with law and procedure. The government has no authority to interfere in its work.
According to the Spokesperson, over 99 percent of political parties have agreed to participate in the upcoming election. Parties have begun recommending candidates, including discussions on potential proportional representation lists, and have launched election campaigns from rural to urban areas.
Some parties have already elected new leadership through general conventions ahead of the election. While a few parties have raised concerns regarding election security citing confiscated weapons and the prisoners who fled during the movement but none have said they will boycott the election.
The government has acknowledged the concerns raised by political parties regarding the need for a fear-free election environment, Minister Kharel said. “The government is committed to conducting the election in a completely impartial, independent, and confident atmosphere,” he assured.
He added that most prisoners who left prisons during the movement have already returned, and efforts are underway to ensure the return of other remaining ones before the election. The Home Administration is actively working toward this goal.
