Sudan Gurung, the 36-year-old leader who spearheaded Nepal’s recent youth protests that brought down the government, has announced his candidacy for the country’s March general elections, promising to establish a “people’s government” led by young Nepalis.
In an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera’s Start Here program, Gurung revealed his movement is mobilizing supporters across Nepal to create what he calls a “movement for change” rather than forming a traditional political party. He plans to run “as a group” rather than as an independent candidate to maintain the collective strength of the youth movement.
The protests initially began after the government blocked major social media platforms including Facebook, X, and YouTube, citing registration and oversight issues. However, the demonstrations quickly expanded into widespread opposition against government corruption, state violence, and lack of accountability. The unrest resulted in dozens of young protesters killed and thousands injured.
Gurung’s grassroots movement, primarily driven by Nepal’s Generation Z, used platforms like Discord and Instagram to organize and gather policy proposals from citizens nationwide. The group has established legal and communications committees as they prepare for governance.
Beyond anti-corruption efforts, Gurung’s movement plans to focus on revitalizing Nepal’s tourism industry and strengthening diplomatic relations with neighboring India and China while avoiding “external interference.”
The protest leader expressed hope that investigations into corruption and protester killings would prevent established politicians from participating in the upcoming elections. When asked about his prime ministerial ambitions, Gurung stated he would run if chosen by the people, though he doesn’t consider himself “the right person right now.”
Despite facing intimidation attempts, Gurung remains resolute about his mission to transform Nepal’s political landscape, declaring “it’s now or never” to save the nation.
