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The Inquiry Commission formed to investigate the incidents that occurred during the GenZ movement on September 8 and 9 submitted its report to the government on Sunday.

A team of the Commission reached Singha Durbar this morning and handed over the report to Prime Minister Sushila Karki.

The interim government had formed a commission of inquiry on September 21 under the headship of former Judge Gauri Bahadur Karki to investigate the incidents that unfolded during the Gen Z movement and allegations of excessive use of force by state authorities. 

Initially, the Commission was granted a three-month deadline to submit the report. However, the government extended the deadline after the Commission failed to complete the investigation within the stipulated time.

AIG Bigyan Raj Sharma and Bishweshwor Prasad Bhandari were the members of the Commission.

A total of 74 people lost their lives in the protests.

During the protests, various public institutions, including Singha Durbar, the country's administrative center and the Supreme Court, were vandalized and set on fire.

The message from the people could not have been clearer. Nepal wanted change. After years of political fatigue, shifting coalitions, and promises that too often dissolved into disappointment, voters have signaled that the country must move in a different direction.

The election results reflect a decade-long buildup of public sentiment. Voters, especially the youth, are no longer willing to accept the familiar cycle of unfulfilled promises. They have demanded renewal and entrusted that demand to a new generation of leaders.

But moments like this must be understood with sobriety. What we are witnessing is not merely an electoral victory. It is a transfer of responsibility.

Celebration, while understandable, would be premature. A large portion of Nepal’s electorate today consists of young citizens who will live longest with the consequences of the decisions made today. Their stake in the nation’s future is therefore greater than anyone else’s. For many of them, this election was not simply about changing faces in Parliament. It was about reclaiming a sense of possibility that had slowly eroded through years of political fatigue.

The winds of change now blowing across the country carry something deeper than political momentum. They carry hope—that governance will be guided by competence rather than convenience, and that public service will truly serve the people.

Yet hope alone is not enough; strong institutions must underpin governance. Nepal’s long- term stability will not be secured by personalities alone. History has repeatedly shown that personality-driven politics may win elections, but only strong institutions sustain nations. Durable governance requires rules that are respected, processes that are predictable, and public institutions that remain resilient regardless of who holds office.

Nepal’s political history since 2008 illustrates the dangers of personality-driven governance. Fourteen governments in just seventeen years have collapsed under the weight of fragile coalitions, leaving citizens weary of instability. Yet even amid this turbulence, institutions have occasionally held firm. The Supreme Court’s interventions during parliamentary disputes and the press’s exposure of corruption remind us that accountability mechanisms, though imperfect, remain vital safeguards.

Strengthening those institutions must therefore become a central priority. Ministries must function as professional bodies rather than political outposts. Regulatory authorities must operate with independence. Public administration must be guided by competence and continuity rather than partisan convenience.

Equally important is the principle that responsibility must be accompanied by authority and accountability. Those entrusted with responsibility must have the authority to act decisively, balanced with transparent, measurable accountability and public oversight. Transparency is not an inconvenience to governance. It is one of its essential safeguards.

At the same time, one of the defining pillars of any healthy parliamentary system is the presence of a credible and effective opposition.

A government, no matter how well- intentioned, must be subject to scrutiny. Opposition is not obstruction. It is a constitutional mechanism designed to question, challenge, and refine the exercise of power. When opposition is weak, fragmented, or absent, the system itself begins to lose balance. Policies may go insufficiently examined, decisions may escape rigorous debate, and correctable errors may grow larger with time.

This observation is not a criticism of the newly elected representatives. In fact, quite the opposite. Many entering public office today carry with them the sincerity and optimism that Nepal has long needed in its political class. But sincerity does not substitute for experience. Governance is complex, and even leaders with the best of intentions can make mistakes while navigating institutions that demand both wisdom and patience.

This is precisely why the broader ecosystem of democratic oversight becomes so important. Where parliamentary opposition is weak, the responsibility to safeguard institutional balance does not disappear. It simply shifts. The judiciary must remain vigilant in upholding constitutional boundaries, ensuring that governance remains within the framework of law. Equally important is the role of a free and responsible press. By questioning decisions, investigating policies, and amplifying public concerns, the media provides the scrutiny that every democracy requires.

Accountability is not a sign of hostility. It is a safeguard against unintended failure. Nepal today stands at a delicate and hopeful juncture. The electorate has expressed a desire to move beyond the political patterns of the past. The youth of the country, both those who voted and those who will inherit the consequences of today’s choices, have effectively placed their trust in a new direction.

Trust, however, is not a blank cheque. It is an obligation. The leaders who now carry this mandate must remember that the public’s support was not an endorsement of triumph but an appeal for responsibility. Every decision they make will determine whether this moment becomes a genuine turning point or simply another chapter in a familiar cycle.

The people have done their part. They have spoken with clarity and conviction. What lies ahead for those entrusted with power is not a moment of triumph, but a test of stewardship. The trust placed in them by the people, particularly by a generation that will live longest with the consequences of today’s decisions, carries with it both expectation and hope.

It is therefore fitting to extend heartfelt congratulations to the newly elected leaders, together with sincere wishes that they lead with wisdom, humility, and a deep sense of responsibility. May their leadership strengthen institutions, inspire confidence, and guide the nation steadily in the right direction, proving the people right for having entrusted them with this honor. Because this election was never meant to be a victory to celebrate. It is a responsibility to honor.

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) senior leader Balendra Shah has been elected the House of Representatives (HoR) from Jhapa-5.

Shah won the poll by defeating former prime minister and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli by a wide margin. 

According to the Office of the Returning Officer, Balendra Shah secured 68,348 votes, while Oli managed 18,734 votes.

In the vote counts completed this evening, Samir Tamang of Shram Sanskriti Party got 9,233 votes, while Mandhara Chimariya of Nepali Congress secured 1,821 votes and Laxmi Prasad Sangraula of Rastriya Prajatantra Party got 1,536 votes. 

Of the total 163,379 voters, 106,568 voters cast their votes in the election on March 5.

The election for the 275-member House of Representatives (HoR) was conducted peacefully across the country, despite a few minor incidents of violence reported in some constituencies. Voters from across generations—from GenZ youth to citizens over 100 years old—turned out to cast their ballots.

The election marks an important effort to revive Nepal’s constitutional framework after it was destabilized by a protest-driven political crisis. As voting concludes, public attention is now shifting toward the reform measures the new government will undertake. People remain concerned about how the incoming leadership will address political challenges, overcome structural constraints, and stabilize the country’s fragile economic situation.

Voters expect the new government to focus on improving the overall quality of life by ensuring good governance and maintaining strong control over corruption. People want the government to create more jobs and expand economic opportunities so that citizens can achieve financial stability and growth.

Farmers expect the timely availability of chemical fertilizers to support agricultural productivity, while students and families hope for quality and affordable education. At the same time, citizens want accessible and affordable healthcare services, a clean and reliable supply of tap water, and dependable public transportation systems.

Proper monitoring and regulation of markets to control prices is also a major expectation, as it would help protect consumers from inflation and unfair practices. Overall, voters hope the new government will work responsibly to build a fair, transparent, and prosperous society for everyone.

The new government—whether led by old or new political actors—will be obliged to take measures to bring about meaningful change. However, this election is unlikely to produce a single-party majority government due to the current electoral system, which combines First-Past-the-Post and Proportional Representation. Nepal first implemented this system in the 2008 Constituent Assembly elections, and since then no party has secured a single-party majority to form the government. National elections were subsequently held in 2013, 2017, and 2022, but none produced a single-party government. Thursday’s election is also expected to result in a coalition government involving more than two political parties. To initiate the reform process, the first precondition is the stability of both parliament and government.

Untimely dissolution of parliament and frequent changes in government have hindered the prospects for meaningful change. Only a stable government can create a conducive environment for constitutional amendments. Since a two-thirds majority is required to amend the constitution, such changes cannot take place without broad political consensus. While consensus may be possible among major political parties on non-political issues, it is far more difficult to reach agreement on core political matters.

Moreover, amending the constitution can open a Pandora’s box. Once the process begins, multiple groups may push their own agendas. For instance, royalist groups demand the restoration of the Hindu state and monarchy, while other groups have their own competing demands. In addition, improving governance will require amendments to dozens of existing laws, which is also a complex and time-consuming task.

Good governance and institutional reforms are essential to boost private investment, foster inclusive and sustainable growth, create jobs, and increase productivity. There is also a need to attract more foreign direct investment to bridge the funding gap for infrastructure development and other sectors. However, foreign companies often complain about bureaucratic red tape and regulatory hurdles when investing in Nepal. At the same time, the economic policies of the new government will be closely watched by the international community.

The new government faces the formidable task of undertaking comprehensive reforms across political, economic, and state institutions. Achieving these reforms will require a stable and conducive political environment within Nepal’s fragmented political landscape.