In a remarkable shift in Nepal’s political landscape, the Rastriya Swatantra Party, led by the dynamic Balendra Shah—a former rapper and civil engineer—has achieved a stunning parliamentary victory. With a near two-thirds majority, Shah’s party not only reflects the aspirations of a younger generation but also signals a desire for accountability and reform in a country grappling with longstanding issues of corruption and stagnation.
A political party led by a rapper-turned-politician has won a sweeping parliamentary majority in Nepal, with official results showcasing a pivotal moment in the country’s democracy. The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), helmed by Balendra Shah, a 35-year-old former civil engineer and hip-hop artist known as “Balen,” secured an impressive 182 seats in the 275-member lower house of parliament. The Election Commission announced that Shah’s party won 125 seats directly and an additional 57 through proportional representation.
In this election, the Nepali Congress party finished a distant second, obtaining only 38 seats. The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), led by veteran politician Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, managed to secure merely 25 seats. Notably, Shah himself secured victory against Oli, a seasoned politician who had long dominated Nepali politics.
Oli extended his congratulations to Shah via X, expressing hopes for a “smooth and successful” tenure. This election follows a backdrop of tumultuous protests in September 2025 that significantly reshaped the political landscape, initially sparked by government restrictions on social media. The protests quickly escalated into a widespread movement against corruption and economic stagnation, resulting in at least 77 fatalities.
Throughout the unrest, Shah became a prominent voice for the youth, with his song “Nepal Haseko,” or “Nepal Smiling,” garnering over 10 million views on YouTube. His evolution from an engineer to a leading political figure, and Kathmandu’s first independent mayor in 2022, symbolizes a generational shift in a nation where over 40% of the nearly 30 million population is under 35, and older political leaders have remained entrenched in power for decades.
In his victory speech, Shah signaled a turning point, underlining a collective refusal to accept “the easy way out” and a demand for addressing “the problems and betrayals that have afflicted the country.” The RSP, established concurrently with Shah’s mayoral win, conducted a well-organized campaign bolstered by support from Nepali diaspora communities, particularly those in the United States.
Nepali journalist Pranaya Rana remarked that Shah represents a “spirit of the outsider” that resonates with many young Nepalis eager to challenge the status quo. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to the election results as a “proud moment” for Nepal’s democratic journey, assuring continued cooperation with the new government.
Moving forward, Nepal’s constitutional process requires parties to submit nominations for proportionally allocated seats in parliament before a new assembly is convened by the president. The appointment of a new prime minister, who will need the support of a majority of members, is not anticipated for several days.
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