Nepalese politics is witnessing a remarkable twist as rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah emerges as a formidable contender. According to preliminary results released by the Election Commission of Nepal, his centrist party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), is on track for a landslide victory in the parliamentary elections.
The 35-year-old Shah, who first rose to prominence leading student protests last year, has garnered substantial support from the younger generation, particularly the Gen-Z demographic. Saturday’s early vote counts indicate that his party is heading towards securing a two-thirds majority in the 275-seat House of Representatives, Nepal’s lower parliamentary chamber.
Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, a spokesperson for the Election Commission, told AFP, “Current trends show that the Rastriya Swatantra Party is leading in many constituencies and has already won several seats.”
If these trends persist, Shah could unseat veteran Marxist leader KP Sharma Oli and transition from his former role as mayor of Kathmandu to potentially becoming Nepal’s next prime minister—a development considered one of the most dramatic shifts in recent Nepalese politics.
Early Election Results
| Total Seats | RSP Wins | Nepali Congress Wins | CPN-UML Wins | Remaining Seats Leading |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 declared (of 165 counted) | 18 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Leading in remaining 99 | 99 | – | – | – |
| Proportional Representation (110 seats) | Majority secured | – | – | – |
As of Saturday morning, only 24 out of 165 constituencies had announced results. Of these, RSP won 18 seats, Nepali Congress 5, and the CPN-UML, led by former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, just 1. In addition, in the proportional representation (PR) system covering 110 seats, Shah’s party has secured over half of the votes. The Election Commission has indicated that full results may be announced within a week, after all PR votes are tallied.
The elections follow a wave of nationwide protests that began in September last year after the government briefly banned social media. Led by Gen-Z activists, the movement quickly escalated into mass demonstrations against corruption and economic mismanagement. At least 77 people were killed, and KP Sharma Oli’s government ultimately fell, paving the way for new elections six months later.
Since Friday, Shah’s supporters have taken to the streets of Kathmandu in jubilant celebration. Analysts describe his current lead over 74-year-old Oli as a symbolic victory of youth over entrenched political authority. Meanwhile, Gagan Thapa, leader of the Nepali Congress and head of the previous coalition’s largest party, is trailing in his own constituency.
Balendra Shah’s rise represents both a generational shift and a political upheaval, signalling a transformative moment in Nepal’s parliamentary history.