Overseas Nepalis return home in droves to vote, carrying hope for change

KATHMANDU: With the March 5 election just days away, a wave of Nepali migrant workers is returning home from abroad to cast their votes, creating scenes reminiscent of major festival seasons at airports and border crossings across the country. From Tribhuvan International Airport to key border points in the east and west, long lines of returnees can be seen carrying modest belongings and quiet hope that this time, something might finally change back home.

At western border points such as Trinagar in Dhangadhi and Gaddachauki in Kanchanpur, and eastern crossings including Kakarbhitta in Jhapa, Birgunj, and Belahiya in Lumbini, thousands of Nepalis are entering the country daily. The atmosphere mirrors the bustle of Dashain and Tihar, Nepal’s biggest festivals.

In Kathmandu, the arrivals terminal of Tribhuvan International Airport is packed with young men and women flying in from Japan, the United Kingdom, various European nations, and Gulf countries after securing short leave solely to vote. Their shared dream is simple yet profound: that the next government will create jobs at home so future generations won’t be forced to toil in foreign lands.

Many overseas Nepalis believe the political and social climate shifted after the September “Gen-Z Movement,” which pressured traditional parties and leaders to reform. This election, they say, feels different. There is growing faith that voters—especially young people—may chart a new political path.

Sunil Bohara, 22, from Bajhang, who left for India at just 15 due to poverty, returned home after taking two weeks of unpaid leave. “I’m not voting for a party; I’m voting for someone who can actually work,” he said. “Young people like us shouldn’t have to leave the country just to survive. The government should create opportunities here based on our skills.”

Security personnel at the Trinagar border estimate around 2,000 Nepalis are entering Nepal daily, most of them working as cooks, security guards, and laborers in Indian cities such as Mumbai, Kerala, Pune, and Gorakhpur. Similar scenes unfold at Kakarbhitta, where groups of workers from Darjeeling, Sikkim, and Siliguri are crossing back into Nepal together.

Jhumakant Dhungana from Achham arrived in Nepal with a group of 20 friends after 20 months in Pune. “We voted for years, and the old leaders only made promises,” he said. “This time, there’s a small hope that new faces might bring change—end corruption and create jobs here, even if the pay is modest.”

At the arrivals gate of Tribhuvan International Airport, returnees from Qatar and Malaysia speak of deep anxiety over Nepal’s worsening economy and rising unemployment—yet they remain cautiously optimistic. “Our remittances keep the country running,” one young man returning from Malaysia said. “But who guarantees our future?”

Despite the emotional homecoming, Nepal’s broader economic reality remains grim. With most working-age youth abroad, many villages are left in the care of the elderly and children. Political parties, meanwhile, are quietly coordinating with supporters abroad to bring them home for voting—highlighting the heavy dependence on migrant voters.

Ironically, while thousands are returning to vote, hundreds of others continue to leave Nepal every day in search of work. From border points like Trinagar and Kakarbhitta, young men can be seen heading to India, prioritizing survival over participation in the election.

Nepal’s Ministry of Home Affairs has instructed armed police forces to facilitate the movement of returning voters at border crossings. Yet the contradiction remains stark: one stream flowing home with hope, another flowing out in desperation.

Voters’ Message: Let This Be the Turning Point

Every election season, political parties promise poverty reduction and job creation. But repeated failures to deliver have bred deep public frustration.

For overseas Nepalis, the March 4 election is no longer just a democratic ritual—it is seen as a final chance to end forced foreign employment.

As they arrive carrying worn bags and fragile hopes, one question hangs heavy in the air: Will the next government finally honor the dreams of those who return home believing change is possible?