Nepal's RSP Party Secures Major Election Victory

Mar 9, 2026

77 min

Mar 9, 2026 09:30

Nepal's rapper-led centrist party heads for poll landslide

## Historic Win for RSP

Nepal's Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, is on track for a significant victory in the country's parliamentary elections. Partial results indicate that the centrist party has secured a majority in the direct elections and is also leading in the proportional representation vote.

## Defeating Established Leaders

Shah, who previously served as the mayor of Kathmandu, achieved a notable victory by defeating former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in his constituency. This marks a dramatic shift in Nepal's political landscape, as Shah's rise from local governance to a potential national leader is seen as a significant change.

## Context of the Elections

The elections follow the September 2025 youth-led protests against corruption, which resulted in the fall of the previous government. These demonstrations, driven by economic grievances and a brief social media ban, set the stage for the current political shift.

## Election Results and Process

The elections were held to form a new 275-member House of Representatives. Of the 185 direct seats, RSP has won 121, with the Nepali Congress and Oli's Marxist party trailing significantly. The proportional representation results are still pending, but RSP is leading with nearly half of the counted votes.

## Future Implications

The peaceful and orderly voting process reflects continued public engagement with democracy despite recent instability. As the final results are awaited, the new government will face the task of addressing the findings of a report on the 2025 protests, which has yet to hold anyone accountable for the violence.

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