Nepal votes on March 5; focus on jobs, economy

Nepal will hold national elections on March 5th, marking its first since youth-led protests ousted the government of K P Sharma Oli. Nearly 19 million eligible voters, including a significant number of young people, will participate in the election for the 275-member house of representatives. Key issues for voters include jobs and the economy, particularly for the younger generation. India, Nepal's largest trading partner, will be closely watching the outcome as it seeks to maintain its strategic and economic interests in the Himalayan state. China also intends to monitor the election closely, hoping for a more established political party, possibly the Communists or Maoists, to take power.