Nearly 3,500 Candidates Including Four Former PMs Contest Nepal's March 5 Elections

Nepal is preparing for general elections on March 5, with nearly 3,500 candidates, including 391 women, contesting 165 seats under the direct voting system. Four former prime ministers—K P Sharma Oli, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', Madhav Kumar Nepal, and Baburam Bhattarai—have filed nominations despite youth-led Gen Z protests demanding change. Two other ex-PMs, Sher Bahadur Deuba and Jhala Nath Khanal, are not contesting. Political parties are campaigning amid calls for new leadership.