Nepali ex-rapper will form government after landslide election win

South China Morning PostEN 2 min read 100% complete by Associated PressMarch 8, 2026 at 12:00 PM

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In Nepal's first parliamentary election since Gen Z protests, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by ex-rapper Balendra Shah, is poised for a landslide victory. Formed just four years ago, the RSP has already secured 117 of 165 directly elected seats, unseating the long-dominant Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal. Shah, who also won the 2022 Kathmandu mayoral race and was a key figure in the 2025 uprising, is the party's prime ministerial candidate. The RSP is also leading in proportional representation, potentially securing over half of the 110 seats allocated through this system. Final results are expected later in the week, marking a significant shift in Nepal's political landscape.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Himalayan Times 40% Annapurna Post 40% Kathmandu 50% Nepal's Election Commission 50% Khadga Prasad Oli 60% Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) 70% Nepali Congress 70% Balendra Shah 80% Rastriya Swatantra Party (National Independent Party, RSP) ×690% Nepal ×395%

Keywords

nepali election 100% political party 80% landslide victory 70% rastriya swatantra party 70% political paradigm shift 60% balendra shah 60% proportional representation 50% gen z protests 50% rapper-turned-politician 40%

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Positive

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South China Morning Post

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90%

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Nepal

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nepali election political party landslide victory rastriya swatantra party political paradigm shift balendra shah proportional representation gen z protests rapper-turned-politician

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