India, Jan. 8 -- Nepal is in the throes of a defining moment in its democratic journey, marked by disruption and instability. As the date of the general elections draws near, there is quiet unease in a country that witnessed turmoil last September, when Gen Z rose and toppled the Oli government. What began as a protest against restrictions on social media access quickly turned into widespread unrest. Since then, the streets have remained calm under the caretaker government led by Sushila Karki, who has limited her role to overseeing the elections and handing power to the newly elected government on March 5.

Like India, Nepal is a young nation, with many voters in their thirties and forties - but the similarity ends there. Nepal has strug...