Nepal's Election: A Nation Votes for Change, Haunted by Last Year's Deadly Protests

KATHMANDU, March 3 (Reuters) – The piece of paper held aloft by Rashik Khatiwada bore a blunt, angry message: "FUCK THE SYSTEM!". Surrounded by hundreds of fellow protesters near Nepal's parliament last September 8, the 23-year-old student's demonstration against endemic corruption and joblessness was cut violently short. Within two hours, he was dead.

Khatiwada was one of 77 people killed over two days of intense protests—a seminal uprising that ultimately forced the resignation of then-Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, shook the political establishment to its core, and set the stage for Thursday's pivotal general election. The violence etched a deep-seated desire for change into the national consciousness, a sentiment now dominating the campaign, especially among those who lost loved ones.

"What have past leaders done for this country over the last three decades?" asked Rachana Khatiwada, Rashik's mother, her voice steady with resolve. "They accumulated wealth for themselves and placed their own people in positions of power. What did they truly do for the nation?"

This widespread disenchantment has created a historic opening for new political forces. Leading the charge is 35-year-old Balendra Shah, a rapper-turned-politician and Kathmandu mayor, now a frontrunner for prime minister. His Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has drawn in figures like Khatiwada, who, though not directly contesting a seat, is a proportional representation candidate. After years of political indifference, she says her motivation is simple: to seek justice for her son and the other victims.

"We demanded accountability for those responsible for the deaths of so many children, and the interim government failed to deliver," she said. A state-appointed commission investigating the protests, including the use of live ammunition against demonstrators, has had its deadline extended three times. Its final report is not expected until after the election.

The Artist Who Never Returned

On that same September morning, 34-year-old Binod Maharjan fed pigeons on his terrace as usual, then abruptly left home, his breakfast of rice and lentils untouched. "My son said he would return home and eat the meal he had left behind," said his mother, Lata Maya Maharjan, 75. "He never came back."

The family learned he had joined the protests only after a frantic call from a friend led them to Kathmandu's Everest Hospital. "My mind went completely silent," recalled his brother, Kaji Ratna Maharjan, describing the bullet wounds. "I still cannot put into words what I felt."

Binod, a school dropout, was a passionate artist. His murals cover the family's three-story home—a hand-drawn map of Nepal, a depiction of Lord Shiva, and in his mother's room, a self-portrait with his signature dreadlocks, surrounded by his nieces and nephews.

"We do not understand politics," said Kaji Ratna, who plans to vote on Thursday. "But those who do must focus on ending corruption and creating jobs. Only then can we prevent another protest like September's."

A Widow's Gruelling Campaign for a Future

For Parbati Subedi, 28, each day begins before dawn with work as a domestic helper, followed by a shift in the cleaning department of a major corporation. The gruelling schedule earns her 30,000 rupees ($206) a month to support herself and her daughter after her husband, security guard Dev Kumar Subedi, 29, was killed on September 9.

"I believe this protest happened because people wanted change in Nepal and change in our leaders," Subedi said. "Those in power forgot about families like ours, for whom putting two meals on the table is a daily struggle."

While she has received a 1.5 million rupee compensation package from the interim government, other promises—employment for family members, medical support, pensions—remain unfulfilled for her and many other victims' families.

Now, like her late husband, she is a staunch supporter of the RSP and Balendra Shah, citing his work as mayor. She even creates social media content urging voters to back the party. "I believe they will genuinely work towards improving the country," she said. "But if it's any of the other parties, I have little hope that things will change."

Voices from the Public

Anil Gurung, 42, School Teacher (Kathmandu): "This election feels different. The grief of those families isn't just a memory; it's a powerful political force. It's forcing us all to ask if we can continue with the same old politics."

Dr. Sabita Thapa, 38, Physician (Pokhara): "The systemic failures that led to those deaths—poor governance, lack of opportunity—are the same ones plaguing our healthcare and education. Change isn't just political; it's a matter of survival."

Rohan Shrestha, 31, Software Developer (expat, commenting online): "The establishment parties are bloodstained. They presided over the murder of unarmed kids. Voting for them again isn't politics; it's moral bankruptcy. Shah might be untested, but how could he be worse?"

Meena Karki, 55, Small Business Owner (Bharatpur): "My heart breaks for the mothers. But we must be careful. New faces bring hope, but can they govern? Stability matters too. I hope this vote brings peace, not more chaos."

($1 = 145.5 Nepalese rupees)

(Writing by Devjyot Ghoshal; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan. Additional reporting and context by Reuters.)