Kapilvastu, Jan. 21 -- When a short TikTok clip stating, "Sagar Basante, Krishne, why are you scared? Your elder brother is finally going to apply for Midi (corruption of the Nepali term Myadi, or election police)," resurfaced last week. It reignited nationwide attention around a familiar face. For many young Nepalis scrolling through social media, the slang bravado was instantly recognisable.

Nineteen-year-old Nabaraj Regmi, a resident of Jhugagaun in ward 3 of Banaganga Municipality, first shot to fame during the 2022 general elections, when a TikTok video of him wearing a temporary election police uniform went viral. At the time, he was only 16 and not legally eligible for recruitment.

For Regmi, however, the moment has marked someth...