SARLAHI, Nepal, Feb 27, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Nepali student leader-turned-politician Gagan Thapa has sought to rejuvenate his party's stale image, campaigning on generational change ahead of the Himalayan nation's first elections since a deadly youth-led uprising. "We need energy for Nepal's change," the 49-year-old aspiring prime minister told AFP, saying his candidacy represented a break from decades of rule by a tight-knit and ageing elite. The protests toppled Marxist leader KP Sharma Oli's government, in which Thapa's centrist Nepali Congress party had the biggest share of seats. Thapa's home and party office were among the buildings set alight during the two days of violence last year. He has since led an internal revolt and was elected party leader in January, ending the decade-long grip of former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, 79, who had defied calls for reform.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha February 27, 2026 04:49 UTC