The country votes next week for the first time since deadly anti-corruption protests toppled the government, but analysts say any winner will likely maintain the delicate diplomatic balance between its two giant neighbours, India and China.
The landlocked Himalayan nation of 30 million people will elect a new government on March 5, six months after youth-led demonstrations brought down the administration of Marxist leader KP Sharma Oli.
Who will win is an open question, but Nepali journalist Sudheer Sharma said it will likely be “very difficult” for any single party to secure a majority, meaning longstanding political dynamics may continue.
“Nepal’s relation with India or China depends on what type of coalition it will be and who will be the dominant power,” said Sharma.
“The fundamentals of the relationship will not change, but some approaches might.”
Younger candidates are campaigning on promises to overhaul a stagnant economy and remove an ageing political elite, while veteran politicians emphasise stability and security if returned to power.
Key investors and trading partners Beijing and New Delhi are watching closely, but analysts suggested that the new government will likely continue Kathmandu’s pragmatic balancing act between the two powers, who compete for influence. — AFP
