Politics Ex-rapper's party heads for landslide victory in Nepal election
A landslide victory for the party of the former mayor of Kathmandu, Balendra Shah, is emerging in the parliamentary election in Nepal, which is considered to be a landmark election. According to official partial results, the relatively young RSP (Rastriya Swatantra Party) had won 114 out of 165 direct mandates in the lower house by midday on Sunday (local time). It was ahead in 13 other constituencies. The lower house is the more powerful of the two chambers of parliament.
08.03.2026, 11:12
SDA
With the victory of the centrist RSP, its 35-year-old lead candidate and former rapper Shah alias Belen has a good chance of becoming the next prime minister of the Himalayan state. The party was also clearly in the lead when the second votes were counted. A total of 275 seats are at stake, 110 of which will be allocated to list candidates according to the proportional share of votes.
Thursday's early election was the first election in Nepal since the deadly riots six months ago, which led to the resignation of the then head of government Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli and the dissolution of parliament. It is also seen as a test of the influence of younger voters. In September, the blocking of social media platforms drove tens of thousands of mostly young people from "Generation Z" onto the streets. They denounced widespread corruption and nepotism. More than 70 people lost their lives in the course of the unrest.
Shah made a name for himself in Nepal's hip-hop scene
Alongside the two former ruling parties, the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist-Leninist), the RSP had been given the best chance of victory. Shah, who has made a name for himself in Nepal's hip-hop scene since the early 2010s, is associated with hope for reforms and a new political beginning, especially among young people. He is also described as populist in the local media. Four years ago, he won the election for mayor of the capital Kathmandu as an independent candidate. At the beginning of this year, he resigned and joined the RSP.
