Rapper-politician Balendra Shah's party wins Nepal election

BBC News - WorldEN 2 min read 100% complete March 12, 2026 at 04:25 PM

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Nepal's Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, achieved a significant victory in the recent election, the first since youth-led protests in 2023. Although the RSP fell short of a two-thirds majority, their 182 seats represent the largest win for a single party in Nepal in decades. The Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal UML (CPN-UML) followed with 38 and 25 seats respectively. The election outcome reflects a desire for change, with parties promising to address issues like unemployment and inequality that fueled previous protests. The RSP's success, despite being founded in 2022, signals a shift in Nepal's political landscape, as established parties lost ground to the newcomer. The formation of a new government is expected to take at least a week.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Jhapa 5 30% Kathmandu 40% Gagan Thapa 40% KP Sharma Oli ×260% Communist Party of Nepal UML ×270% Nepali Congress ×270% Rastriya Swatantra Party ×580% Balendra Shah ×390% Nepal ×6100%

Keywords

nepal election 100% rastriya swatantra party 90% balendra shah 80% youth-led protests 70% political change 60% political system 50% economic stagnation 50% nepali congress 40% cpn-uml 40%

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BBC News - World

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90%

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Nepal

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nepal election rastriya swatantra party balendra shah youth-led protests political change political system economic stagnation nepali congress cpn-uml

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