Kathmandu: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Jagdish Kharel, has announced that the government felt encouraged after a successful joint meeting with representatives from Generation Z and political parties, which took place at the official residence of Prime Minister Sushila Karki in Baluwatar. The meeting, attended by the Prime Minister and other key figures, was deemed a step forward in preparing for the upcoming elections scheduled for March 5.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Minister Kharel, who also serves as the government’s spokesperson, addressed the media following the four-hour-long meeting. He described the atmosphere as harmonious and noted that the discussions focused on addressing demands from Gen Z, as well as the mandate of conducting the March 5 elections. This meeting was the first of its kind since the protests on September 8-9, which led to the collapse of the coalition government and the dissolution of the House of Representatives, resulting in the establishment of the current interim government.
Prime Minister Karki initiated this meeting to unify political parties and Gen Z leaders, aiming to collectively address their concerns and advance election preparations. Minister Kharel responded to media queries regarding the differing positions of political parties, stating that almost all parties, including the Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Centre), and Rastriya Prajatantra Party, were supportive of the elections. He also mentioned that the CPN UML was not opposed to the election process.
During the meeting, Nepali Congress leaders urged the government to consider various factors, including security, while the UML questioned the government’s ability to ensure a safe election environment. Gen Z leaders highlighted the importance of good governance and the eradication of corruption, expressing their support for the elections.
Minister Kharel emphasized that the environment for the election is now being set, and he called for cooperation from all parties involved. He also informed that the government is actively working to recover the looted arms. Prime Minister Karki reminded both political and Gen Z leaders of their potential contributions to ensure the successful conduct of the elections and reiterated the government’s commitment to election preparations and good governance.
The meeting saw participation from key government figures, including Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal, Minister for Education, Science and Technology Dr. Mahabir Pun, and Minister Kharel himself. Political figures in attendance included Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Barshaman Pun, Madhav Sapkota, and several others representing various parties.