Nepal elections: Balen Shah's RSP on brink of landslide victory
What's the story
The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), in which former rapper Balendra Shah is a prominent figure, is on the cusp of a huge victory in Nepal's parliamentary elections. At the time of writing, the party has won 25 seats and is leading in 93 others. This marks a major shift from the traditional political landscape of the country. The RSP is also ahead in the proportional representation vote count with a whopping 57% share.
Political upheaval
Shah's rise follows youth-led protests in September 2025
Shah's rise comes after a wave of youth-led protests in September 2025, which saw the government being toppled. The protests were largely against corruption and unemployment, with calls for social media restrictions to be lifted. The unrest led to the resignation of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and the appointment of interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki, Nepal's first female PM.
Voter engagement
Youth participation in elections
The 2026 elections have seen an estimated 60% voter turnout, with strong participation from young voters. Nepal's Election Commission noted that improved voter education and cooperation from political parties contributed to the smooth process. Shah's RSP party is widely seen as Gen Z-backed, capitalizing on youth frustration with traditional politics through digital outreach and anti-establishment messaging.
Election details
Election results and seat allocation
Nepal's lower house of parliament has 275 seats, with 165 elected through first-past-the-post voting and 110 through proportional representation. RSP candidate Ranju Neupane won a seat from Kathmandu-1. Other parties, such as the Nepali Congress and Shram Sanskriti Party, have also won seats or are leading in constituencies across the country.