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The United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Saturday, targeting its leadership and plunging the Middle East into a new conflict that President Donald Trump said would end a security threat to the U.S. and give Iranians a chance to topple their rulers, Reuters reports. 

Tehran responded by launching missiles at Israel. Explosions also rang out in nearby oil-producing Gulf Arab countries, which said they had intercepted missiles from Iran after Tehran warned it would strike the region if it was attacked, according to a report. 

Nepal’s current election campaign has evolved into a contest not only of agendas but of tone, political memory, and competing claims over who can best safeguard the republic’s future. While most leaders publicly prioritize stability, governance, and development, their messaging styles—and the political histories they invoke—diverge sharply.

KP Sharma Oli and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) (CPN-UML) frame the election as a decisive choice between tested leadership and risky experimentation. Oli’s tone is assertive, combative, and strongly nationalist.

His campaign heavily references two defining moments of his premiership: his stance during the 2015 India–Nepal border disruption and the 2020 constitutional amendment introducing Nepal’s revised political map, incorporating Kalapani, Lipulekh, and Limpiyadhura. Through video messages and public speeches, UML portrays these episodes as evidence of strong leadership defending sovereignty. The party has even framed Sept 8–9 protests as conspiratorial attempts to destabilize the nation and drawn parallels between Nepal’s emerging GenZ activism and “color revolutions,” suggesting foreign-influenced unrest.

The overarching message is clear: only experienced and established leaders can protect sovereignty and ensure economic prosperity. Oli argues that new parties are politically immature and incapable of governing effectively. Aware that youth voters are gravitating toward newer political forces, UML has produced targeted media content urging young voters to trust traditional parties.  Its slogan—CPN-UML now, because the country comes first—reinforces a narrative of national duty and continuity. Party leaders further suggest that Nepal has made significant progress since the democratic restoration of 1990, and that UML’s return is necessary to prevent regression.

In contrast, Pushpa Kamal Dahal adopts a more measured and institutional tone. Rather than foregrounding combative nationalism, he presents himself as a guardian of the federal democratic system born from the 2006 peace process. By invoking his partnership with Girija Prasad Koirala during the Comprehensive Peace Accord, Dahal underscores his claim as one of the architects of the republic. Earlier, he was aggressive toward Oli and aligning himself with new political parties, but of late he is stating that NC, UML and his party will have to collaborate with the forces that burnt down Singhadurbar.

His campaign frames the election as a choice between safeguarding constitutional achievements—federalism, secularism, inclusion—and risking political regression. Unlike Oli, Dahal’s criticism of emerging parties is restrained. He questions their preparedness and long-term seriousness but avoids labeling them threats to the nation. His tone reflects his evolution from insurgent commander to institutional stakeholder: reform, in his framing, must occur within the constitutional system, not through destabilizing rupture.

Gagan Kumar Thapa of the Nepali Congress seeks to position himself between old and new. His rhetoric emphasizes governance reform, anti-corruption, and institutional accountability while defending the democratic legacy of Nepal’s oldest democratic party. Rather than Oli’s defensive nationalism or Dahal’s legacy-based system protection, Thapa projects modernization within tradition, arguing that renewal can and must happen from inside established institutions. Thapa’s says that both Oli’s UML and new political parties are taking extremist positions which can be detrimental for the country. He urges people to vote for the NC’s centrist position.

Outside traditional party hierarchies, new political figures channel voter frustration more directly. Balendra Shah (Balen) employs a blunt, anti-elite style, appealing strongly to urban youth with calls for transparency and technocratic efficiency. His tone is disruptive and unapologetically critical of entrenched political culture. Balen Shah is highlighting the failure of the traditional political parties. He does not seem ideological but is trying to play on the failure of the traditional political parties.

Similarly, Rabi Lamichhane of the Rastriya Swatantra Party frames his campaign around injustice, accountability, and systemic reform. His rhetoric is often confrontational and personally charged, shaped in part by legal controversies that he presents as examples of political persecution. His appeal lies in grievance-driven populism and demands for structural overhaul. At the same time, Lamichhane’s tone is vindictive. He has publicly said that as traditional political parties registered politically motivated cases against him, he will take revenge.

Taken together, the campaign reveals a fundamental tension in Nepali politics. On one side stand leaders like Oli and, in a different register, Dahal—arguing that experienced hands are essential to preserve sovereignty, stability, and constitutional order. On the other side are reformist and anti-establishment figures who insist that generational change, accountability, and structural reform are necessary to move the country forward.

The debate is therefore less about stated goals—since nearly all claim to support stability and development—and more about political trust: whether Nepal’s future lies in consolidating the system built since 2006, or in reshaping it through new leadership and disruptive reform.

The Election Commission (EC) has said the entire preparations for the voting to take place under the House of Representatives (HoR) on March 5 has been over. 

The EC shared this in a weekly press meet on Friday.

EC Joint Secretary and Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said ballot papers, ballot boxes and other election logistics have been already transported to all 77 districts. 

Similarly, voter education program is underway at all 6,743 wards of 753 local levels.  

The programs being facilitated by volunteers will conclude on February 29. Employees and security forces assigned for the election duties have started departing for the respective stations. 

The government and the local levels have been already requested to facilitate in assuring spaces for establishing the polling centres. Such centers are to be established at schools, health institutions and ward offices. 

The EC had already taken decisions regarding election security, the operation of essential services, and the facilitation, coordination and management of election and voting procedures.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Friday.

During the meeting, they exchanged views on various dimensions of Nepal-China relations. 

According to the Prime Minister's Secretariat, the Prime Minister congratulated Zhang on the assumption of the post, wishing him a successful term. 

She hoped that the Ambassador would successfully carry out his duties, thereby contributing to take the friendly relations between the two countries to a new height. 

The Chinese Ambassador congratulated the Prime Minister for building an atmosphere conducive to House of Representatives election by maintaining peace, security and a rule of law. 

He added that China's support and cooperation would always be there in such a process. 

The Prime Minister thanked China for its goodwill and support for the election, a significant part of Nepal's democratic process. 

She also, on behalf of Nepal and Nepali citizens, expressed her gratitude to the Chinese government for its support to various development projects in Nepal. 

The Prime Minister and the Chinese Ambassador exchanged best wishes on the occasion of the Chinese New Year. 

Stating that the two nations are closely connected by culture, geography and historic ties, Prime Minister Karki reiterated Nepal's commitment to the Panchasheel Principles (The Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence). 

She affirmed Nepal adheres to the 'One-China Policy', and made it clear that no activities against its close neighbour would be entertained in its territory. 

Instability in one nation may cause issues in another nation, she reminded, underlining the need for strengthening mutual cooperation for having regional peace and stability. 

In response, the Chinese Envoy, on behalf of the people and President of China, expressed gratitude to the Nepal government for its policy and stance regarding China.