March 5 marked a historic shift in Nepali politics, as voters of all ages—from Gen Z to older citizens—signaled a clear desire for change. The election results made this evident, with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) securing a stunning victory. Just two seats short of a two-thirds majority, the RSP swept through the so-called strongholds of traditional parties with remarkable ease.
Bhaktapur-1, which includes Changunarayan and Bhaktapur municipalities, was one such constituency. For more than a decade, the Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party (NMKP) had been the dominant political force there. But in the March 5 election, voters delivered a shock to NMKP candidate Prem Suwal by electing RSP’s Rukesh Ranjit. Suwal received 28,147 votes against Ranjit’s 33,436.
Ranjit has a long history of involvement in politics and social service. He began his political journey during his college days as a member of the CPN-UML-aligned All Nepal National Free Student Union and became active in the RSP only two years ago.
Krishnabuddha Ranjitkar, a 78-year-old voter from Bhaktapur-1, says people voted for Ranjit because they wanted to give someone new a chance—someone who could bring positive change to the constituency and its residents. “I hope the new leader will bring more improvements to this city.”
Nhachetuko Suwal, another voter from the constituency, says he expected the RSP to defeat the NMKP this time. “People wanted change. They felt it was time to give a new party a chance.”
The 73-year-old adds that although many older voters preferred the NMKP to continue in Bhaktapur-1, the election ultimately tilted in favor of the RSP largely because of younger voters.
“Families whose children and grandchildren are abroad also voted for the RSP. They wanted change, and they got it.”
One voter, who requested anonymity, says the popularity of the RSP and its prime ministerial candidate, Balendra Shah, played a crucial role in the election. “Many voters didn’t even know who the RSP candidate was. We hardly saw any election rallies, and yet the party managed to win.”
According to him, many adult voters cast their ballots for the RSP at the suggestion of their children and grandchildren, who had grown disillusioned with traditional parties, particularly after the deadly Gen Z protests last September.
Ranjit attributes his victory to voters’ desire for change. “Many voters, particularly those in Changunarayan Municipality, felt ignored by their previous representatives,” he says. “They believed that NMKP leaders were mostly focused on Bhaktapur city. I was able to convert their dissatisfaction into votes.”
Many RSP supporters share a similar view. While they acknowledge the NMKP’s contributions to heritage conservation and tourism in Bhaktapur’s old city, they say the party paid less attention to other pressing issues across the constituency, such as water supply.
Ranjit echoes this sentiment. “While the work carried out by the NMKP in the fields of heritage conservation and tourism is praiseworthy, the party did little to address the concerns of people in other areas.”
Suraj Ranjitkar, a local Nepali Congress leader, admits that traditional parties failed to read the voters’ mood not only in Bhaktapur-1 but across much of the country.
“Older parties were overconfident because they were used to winning elections in their strongholds. They were not aware of the growing disconnect between them and the people.”
The hype surrounding the RSP and its strong social media presence also influenced many voters, especially younger ones.
Twenty-year-old Shristi Prajapati says she is pleased to see young and educated people entering politics through the RSP. However, she also expresses concern that some candidates may have won largely because of their social media popularity. She believes candidates such as NMKP’s Prem Suwal in Bhaktapur-1 and Kulman Ghising of the Ujyaalo Nepal Party, who contested from Kathmandu-3, deserved to win.
“Social media clearly influenced many voters, who cast their ballots without fully knowing the candidates,” she says. “I just hope the newly elected young and educated representatives work together to bring positive change across Nepal.”
The RSP’s surge reflects a growing desire among young voters for alternative politics and tech-savvy communication. While the NMKP has a strong legacy in education and health, many younger voters felt it was not keeping pace with modern economic pressures such as jobs and digital opportunities.
“I hope for transparency, digital-first governance, and opportunities for local entrepreneurship under the RSP government,” says 19-year-old Binisha Chitrakar. “I wasn’t expecting Ranjit to win given NMKP’s historical strength, but the social media campaign and the turnout of first-time voters made it possible. Voting is just the first step; true political awareness means holding leaders accountable for better roads, jobs, and governance.”
Seventeen-year-old Nilsan Koju says he had expected the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party to win because of what he described as the party’s contributions in Bhaktapur-1. However, he was surprised when the RSP candidate secured the victory.
“Many people were heavily influenced by social media,” Koju says. “They supported Shah and voted for the bell symbol of RSP without really knowing the candidate.”
According to him, social media played a major role in the election. “NMKP has also done many good things, but those achievements are rarely recognized online. Instead, a few negative issues are amplified, and people tend to focus only on those.”
Koju says he remains hopeful about the RSP, noting that people clearly want change.
Following his electoral victory, Ranjit says he focused on setting realistic agendas that could be achieved during his tenure rather than making promises that could not be fulfilled within five years.
“Building stadiums and promoting sports is important, as they are ornaments of Nepal,” he says. “But I prioritized addressing the basic needs of Bhaktapurians first. Other issues can be managed gradually once the fundamentals are taken care of.”
Looking ahead, Ranjit has ambitious plans for Bhaktapur: establishing a university within five years, building a Bir Hospital-level facility to serve patients from all 77 districts, and creating employment opportunities for locals. He also wants to convert the industrial area into a “craft village,” reviving traditional cottage industries while relocating pollution-causing factories.
Ranjit envisions building an international-level exhibition and conference center in Sallaghari to boost economic activity and hopes to make Bhaktapur a destination where tourists stay overnight. He plans to involve locals directly through homestays, allowing residents to earn income from tourism.
Addressing concerns that his plans may be overly ambitious, Ranjit says, “Tourism and homestays don’t require huge investments—they can use existing infrastructure. Management is key. For these projects, I have already consulted with the proposed Prime Minister Shah regarding central funding.”
The March 5 election in Bhaktapur-1 ended decades of NMKP dominance, reflecting voters’ clear desire for change. While the party has a strong legacy in heritage conservation, education, and public services, many residents felt economic stagnation and limited opportunities for young people demanded new leadership.
Ranjit’s victory comes with high expectations: creating jobs, improving infrastructure, and preserving Bhaktapur’s cultural heritage. His ambitious plans will test his ability to balance innovation with tradition.
When asked to Prem Suwal about the situation and his thoughts on this, he refused to answer it this soon.
The election also sends a strong message across Nepal: no political stronghold is permanent, and leaders must continually earn the trust of the people.
Fifty-year-old Nirmala Suwal says NMKP has done many good things for Bhaktapur over the years, but this time voters wanted to give a new party a chance. “If we don’t see changes, people may choose differently in the next election.”
