Nepal’s political landscape has undergone a dramatic shift after youth leader Balendra Shah defeated veteran politician KP Sharma Oli in his long-held constituency, paving the way for Shah to become the youngest prime minister in the country’s history.
A structural engineer who first gained national attention as mayor of Kathmandu, Shah contested the parliamentary election from Jhapa District and secured a decisive victory. According to the Election Commission of Nepal, Shah received 68,348 votes, nearly four times the 18,734 votes won by the 74-year-old Marxist leader.
Shah, a senior figure in the Rastriya Swatantra Party, celebrated the victory by touring the streets of his constituency with supporters. Wearing his trademark dark sunglasses, the former rapper waved from a car sunroof as crowds lined the roads chanting “Balen,” a name that has come to symbolise youth-driven political change in Nepal.
RSP on course to form government
The Rastriya Swatantra Party, formed just four years ago, has emerged as the biggest force in the election. The party has already won 59 seats under the First-Past-the-Post system and is leading in 62 other constituencies.
With its combined tally of direct and proportional representation seats expected to exceed the 138-seat majority mark in Nepal’s 275-member House of Representatives, the RSP appears set to form the next government.
Party vice-chairperson DP Aryal attributed the party’s strong performance to the popularity of its top leaders, including Rabi Lamichhane and Balen Shah, confirming that Shah will lead the new administration.
“The government formation process is expected to begin shortly, with swearing-in ceremonies for the new MPs,” a senior election official said.
Outgoing Prime Minister Sushila Karki has expressed readiness to hand over power once the final mandate is confirmed, stressing the importance of a peaceful and orderly transition.
Political upheaval behind the vote
The election comes after months of political turmoil in Nepal. Just six months earlier, deadly anti-government protests that left at least 77 people dead led to the collapse of Oli’s administration and shook the country’s political establishment.
Analysts say the election result reflects widespread frustration with traditional parties.
“This is heading toward a landslide victory and reflects the frustration that has been building,” said political analyst Chandra Dev Bhatta.
“It is actually the people’s revolt against the established political parties,” he added, noting that many voters saw the new political movement as a way to punish older parties for decades of poor governance.
If confirmed, Shah’s premiership would mark a historic generational shift in Nepali politics, with a young, outsider leader rising rapidly from city mayor to the country’s top political office.
