Discord Transforms into Virtual Polling Station as Nepal's Youth Support New Leadership

In the wake of Nepal’s political upheaval, thousands of young activists have flocked to Discord, a popular communication platform, to voice their support for former chief justice Sushila Karki as interim prime minister.

The sudden resignation of Nepal’s prime minister on Tuesday led to the collapse of the government, prompting the military to enforce a curfew in Kathmandu, limit public gatherings, and take control of the streets.

With the recent eviction of Meta from the country as part of a social media crackdown, as reported by Gate, young activists have turned to Discord as their primary platform for political discourse.

“Discord has effectively become Nepal’s Parliament,” stated Sid Ghimiri, a 23-year-old content creator based in Kathmandu. He noted that national television channels have been broadcasting snippets from chatrooms, while Nepali news outlets are live-streaming sessions from the server.

Youth Utilize Discord to Recommend Karki to Military

The Discord server, initiated by Hami Nepal, a civic organization active in recent anti-corruption protests, has seen explosive growth. In just four days, it amassed over 145,000 members, primarily young Nepalese.

Shaswot Lamichhane, a recent high school graduate and one of the server’s moderators, explained, “Our aim was to create a mini-election simulation.” He clarified that while not representative of the entire nation, the initiative sought to propose an interim leader capable of overseeing elections.

World Bank data indicates that more than half of Nepal’s 30 million population now has internet access. This connectivity fueled protests by young citizens outraged by corruption and the ban on 26 social media platforms, including Facebook and YouTube, ultimately leading to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s resignation.

To circumvent government restrictions, many Nepalese rushed to download VPN services. The streets of Kathmandu were flooded with young demonstrators, many in their twenties, demanding the restoration of banned social media platforms and accountability from leaders.

Swiss-based Proton VPN reported a staggering 6,000% increase in downloads over three days. Concerns about a potential internet shutdown also sparked a surge in the use of Bitchat, a Bluetooth-based messaging app developed by a prominent tech entrepreneur.

Server members deliberated on several potential candidates, including influencer Rastra Bimochan Timilsina, young politician Sagar Dhakal, Dharan mayor Harka Sampang, and social entrepreneur Mahabir Pun. However, many rallied behind 73-year-old former chief justice Karki.

According to reports, military leaders met with Discord organizers earlier this week, requesting them to propose a nominee for interim prime minister. A manifesto, drafted by young activists with input from other citizens, was disseminated through social media for public feedback on the same day, compiled within 36 hours.

While Nepal’s constitution includes an emergency clause for appointing an interim leader during crises, the process remains largely opaque. It is uncertain whether the military will formally endorse the Discord-backed choice.

Some Youth Express Concerns Over Voting Process

The Discord server boasted over 40,000 active members, but only 7,713 votes were recorded before moderators closed the polls after Karki surpassed the 50% threshold. Some participants questioned whether the process had sufficient moderators and votes to uphold democratic principles and impartiality.

One young member who participated in the chat expressed concerns about Karki’s independence, asking, “Given her connections to political figures, how can we be certain she’ll remain neutral?” The participant suggested that Karki should take a public oath to guarantee her impartiality.

Samdip Yadav, a 23-year-old graduate in Kathmandu, reflected on the process, saying, “We lack definitive leaders to represent us. At times, it felt like a spontaneous social media initiative. It unfolded rapidly. However, the discussions demonstrated that young people are eager to have their voices heard, even if the format was somewhat disorganized.”