A total of 3,406 candidates have filed nominations from across the country for the upcoming elections. Of these, 2,263 are from various parties and 1,143 are independent candidates.

Generational change in politics was one of the main demands of the Gen-G movement in Bhadau. That is why everyone is interested in which age group candidates the parties have fielded. But looking at the list of candidates, it is seen that the majority of candidates are from the older age group.

However, the number of young people among the voters who voted for these candidates is high. According to the 2078 census, 42.5 percent of Nepal's population is youth. According to the National Youth Policy 2072, the age group of 16 to 40 years is considered youth in Nepal. Currently, out of the 29,164,578 population, there are 12,2412,173 youth.

The youth share of the total population, which was 40.35 percent in 2068, has increased to 42.56 percent in 2078. According to the Election Commission, the total number of voters for the House of Representatives elections is 18,93,689. The majority of young people is also seen in the composition of the voters. Voters aged 18 to 40 years constitute 52 percent of the total voters. Although youth is considered to be from the age of 16, the constitution has given the right to vote only to those who have reached the age of 18.

According to the Election Commission, out of a total of 3,406 candidates, 1,056 are in the age group of 25 to 40, while 1,925 are between the ages of 41 and 60. Similarly, there are 425 candidates who have crossed the age of 60.

Old parties rely on older candidates

The election to be held after the Gen-G movement has not seen much change in the old parties. The Election Commission's data confirms that parties like Congress, UML and NCP have given priority to older candidates while distributing tickets.

The presence of candidates under the age of 40 in Congress, UML and NCP is negligible. Out of 165 constituencies, Congress has fielded only 7 candidates under the age of 40. The youngest candidate from Congress is 32-year-old Yogesh Gauchan Thakali. He has filed his candidacy for the House of Representatives from Mustang. Similarly, 33-year-old Sachin Timalsena has filed his candidacy from Kathmandu-4. 

Nearly one-third of the 165 candidates of the Congress, or 55 leaders, are over 60 years old. The oldest candidate of the Congress is 77-year-old Tek Prasad Gurung. He has filed his candidacy from Chitwan-3. According to the Election Commission, there are 32 candidates in the Congress aged between 40 and 50 years, while there are 71 candidates in the age group of 50 and 60 years. 

The situation of the UML is also similar to the Congress. About 33 percent or 54 of the 164 candidates of the UML are over 60 years old. The oldest candidate among the UML candidates is Zalim Miyan Mansuri.

Mansuri, who is 78 years old, has filed his candidacy from Parsa-4. 27-year-old Amanish Kumar Yadav has become the youngest candidate in the UML. He is a candidate from Sarlahi-4. There are only 12 candidates under the age of 40 in the UML's candidate list. Similarly, there are 32 candidates in the 40-50 age group and 66 candidates in the 50-60 age group. 

Similarly, out of the 164 candidates of the NCP, only 13 are under the age of 40. The youngest is 27-year-old Ajay Kushwaha, who has registered his candidacy from Bara-4. The rest of the candidates are above the age of 40. 39 candidates in the NCP are over the age of 60. Among them, Mahindra Ray Yadav, who has become a candidate from Sarlahi-2, is the oldest. He is 88 years old. 

11 of the 94 candidates of JSP Nepal are under the age of 40. Similarly, 39 candidates in the 40-50 age group and 27 in the 50-60 age group are in the election fray. 17 candidates of JSP are above the age of 60. 

Testing of youth in the new

New parties, including the so-called alternative Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Of the 163 candidates of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) party, nearly 40 percent are under the age of 40. 65 candidates fielded by the RSSP are under the age of 40.

Of which, 12 are under the age of 30 and 53 are in the 30-40 age group. According to the Election Commission, 50 of the RSSP candidates are in the 40-50 age group. Similarly, 46 candidates are in the 50-60 age group. There are only 3 candidates in the RSSP who have crossed the age of 60.

Similarly, out of the total 105 candidates of the Ujjal Nepal Party, 40 are under the age of 40. According to the Election Commission, 29 candidates in Ujjal Nepal are in the 40-50 age group and 27 are in the 50-60 age group. Only 9 candidates from this party have crossed the age of 60.

Out of the total 109 candidates of the Hark Sampang-led Shram Sanskriti Party, 35 candidates are under the age of 40. 26-year-old Pankaj Kumar Thakur has filed his candidacy from Siraha-4. He is the youngest candidate of the Shram Sanskriti Party. Only 6 people in Hark's party are above 60 years of age. 74-year-old Man Bahadur Bairag is the oldest candidate of the Shram Sanskriti Party. He has filed his candidacy from Bardiya-2. 

On the path of reform, the party

Political analysts say that it is not possible to ban older politicians. 'The Gen-G movement was launched because those in power did not deliver with the generational transition. It means that they act according to the world situation and psychology,' says political analyst Jhalak Subedi, 'But saying this does not mean that we should cross out older people.'

He said that some transformation has taken place, although not all, in accordance with the movement. 'Yesterday The leaders of 2048 were all young. Accordingly, it is natural that new ones should come now as well. Accordingly, the parties have put forward transformed characters as candidates to a large extent. That should be taken positively,' Subedi added, 'The UML is still a bit shabby, but there has been a lot of transformation in the Congress and the NCP.'

Demographic analyst and demographer Vidhan Acharya argues that only older people are needed in parliament. 'Politics is about making policies. It is not appropriate to find a ratio of representatives according to age,' he said, 'There is no doubt that there should be transformation in society, but maturity is also needed in politics. I do not agree that 100% participation of youth is required. Rather, youth participation should be increased in making programs specified by the policy.'

Another political analyst Sucheta Pyakurel expressed some hope even though the movement did not bring about transformation in line with the spirit of the movement. 'It is not that the movement will bring about immediate transformation. Yes, the change that should have happened has definitely not happened. But the parties have definitely tried to transform,' she said, 'Unless there is transformation under the leadership of the party, its transformation is not visible in parliament. The transformation that has happened within the Congress should be taken as an example. It seems that the candidates have been decided by compromising within the Congress as well.'