In a historic political shift, former Kathmandu mayor and rapper-turned-politician Balendra “Balen” Shah’s Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is heading towards a landslide victory in Nepal’s 2026 general elections, held on March 5. Early vote counting shows the RSP leading in over 100 out of 165 directly elected constituencies — a result that marks a generational revolution in Nepali politics.
The election was called after massive Gen Z-led protests in September 2025 forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign. Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was appointed as interim Prime Minister — the first woman to lead Nepal’s government — and oversaw the conduct of free and fair elections.
Balen Shah, 35, a structural engineer and hip-hop artist, joined the RSP in January 2026 after resigning as Mayor of Kathmandu. He contested from the high-profile Jhapa-5 constituency directly against former PM KP Sharma Oli, and is leading by a massive margin — with 13,694 votes to Oli’s 3,011. The RSP is leading in all 10 constituencies of the Kathmandu Valley.
Supporters took to the streets across Nepal in celebration, with music and dancing seen at counting centres. The RSP’s “Nepal First” manifesto promises to take Nepal to middle-income status through IT exports, hydropower diplomacy, and anti-corruption reforms.
India is closely monitoring the election results given the complex bilateral relationship. Some analysts note concerns over Balen Shah’s perceived stance on India. Full counting is expected to conclude by March 9, 2026.
