Rapper-politician Balendra Shah on course to be Nepal's next prime minister

Thursday's general election was the first since violent youth-led protests toppled the government in September.

Early results from Nepal's first parliamentary election since the 2025 youth-led revolt show the Rastriya Swatantra Party, led by former rapper Balendra Shah, taking a strong lead. Shah won his seat against former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli by a wide margin.

Vote counting has commenced in Nepal following a peaceful parliamentary election, the first nationwide vote since a major uprising ousted the government in 2025. The Election Commission began tallying votes in 53 of 165 constituencies, with results expected by the weekend.

RSP leader and rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah 'Balen' defeated four-time prime minister K P Sharma Oli by a huge margin of about 50,000 votes in Nepal's Jhapa-5 constituency, the Election Commission said here. The Rashtriya Swatantrata Party (RSP) leader and former Kathmandu Mayor, popularly known only as Balen is his party's prime ministerial candidate.

Balendra Shah has delivered a stunning political upset by defeating former prime minister KP Sharma Oli by nearly 50,000 votes in Nepal’s high-profile Jhapa-5 constituency. The young leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party secured 68,348 votes, while KP Sharma Oli, chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), received 18,734 votes, according to final election results.

Balendra Shah, a former rapper and Kathmandu mayor, is set to become Nepal's youngest prime minister at 35 years old following a landslide victory in the 2026 parliamentary elections, leading the Rastriya Swatantra Party to a commanding share of parliamentary seats.

Shah, widely known as 'Balen', defeated four-time Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli in his own seat, securing almost four times as many votes, marking a dramatic shift in Nepali politics.

RSP leader and rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah 'Balen' defeated four-time prime minister K P Sharma Oli by a huge margin of about 50,000 votes in Nepal's Jhapa-5 constituency, the Election Commission said here. The Rashtriya Swatantrata Party (RSP) leader and former Kathmandu Mayor, popularly known only as Balen is his party's prime ministerial candidate.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by former rapper and Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, is poised for a historic landslide victory in Nepal's first parliamentary election since the 2025 youth-led protests. As of Sunday morning, the party had secured 103 of 165 directly elected seats and led in 21 others, with results for the remaining seats still being counted. RSP is also leading in the proportionally allocated seats, with about 51% of the votes, giving it a clear majority in the 275-member House of Representatives. This marks a significant political shift, unseating the two traditionally dominant parties—the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist). The RSP's meteoric rise follows 2025's youth-led uprising against corruption and governance failures, sparked initially by a controversial social media ban. Despite celebrations among supporters, party officials have requested restraint out of respect for those killed during the protests. The party is now in a strong position to form Nepal’s next government.

Rapper-turned-politician Balen Shah has secured a landslide victory over former prime minister KP Sharma Oli in the country's general election. The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) that Mr Shah leads is also on course to win a commanding share of parliamentary seats. The 35-year-old former Kathmandu mayor rose to prominence during last year’s youth-led uprising that forced the government to resign. Mr Shah defeated former prime minister KP Sharma Oli in his home constituency. Final counts confirm Mr Shah secured 68,348 votes, more than triple the tally of Oli, who finished with 18,734. The RSP’s lead is significant because it means a single party could govern on its own — ending decades of unstable coalition governments in the Himalayan nation. Analysts say the result reflects deep frustration with decades of political instability, corruption and a lack of jobs for young people. According to the current election result trends the party is heading toward a two-thirds majority. Mr Shah, who did not make a speech, flashed a V-for-vctory sign but did not make a speech as he won more than three times the votes than four-time prime minister.

Balendra Shah, also known as 'Balen', is set to become Nepal's youngest prime minister at 35 years old following a landslide victory in the 2026 parliamentary elections, leading the Rastriya Swatantra Party to a commanding share of parliamentary seats.