Kathmandu: Nepal is set to witness the formation of a new government following the latest parliamentary elections held amid a major political upheaval in the Himalayan nation. The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by former Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah, is emerging as the dominant force and moving towards securing the majority required to form the government. The party, founded in 2022 by Ravi Lamichhane, gained momentum after Balen Shah joined it on January 18 this year and was declared the prime ministerial candidate. Within a short span of two months, the party has surged ahead in the political race.
The current political developments trace back to large-scale protests led by Gen-Z youth last year against the government’s ban on social media. The demonstrations spread across the country and turned violent for two days, plunging Nepal into a crisis. The agitation forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, who was heading a coalition government of the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML, to step down from office. Following months of political uncertainty, fresh elections were held for the Nepal Parliament.
Out of the total 275 seats in Nepal’s Parliament, direct elections were held for 165 seats, while the remaining 110 seats will be filled through a proportional representation system based on the overall vote share of political parties. According to early trends, the RSP is leading in more than 100 constituencies, indicating strong public support and putting the party in a favourable position to form the next government.
Balen Shah, popularly known as “Balen,” was born on April 27, 1990, in Naradevi, Kathmandu, and belongs to the Madhesi community. He initially gained fame as a rapper who highlighted corruption in Nepal’s political and administrative systems through his songs. Entering politics in 2022, he contested the Kathmandu mayoral elections as an independent candidate and won, gaining widespread popularity, particularly among young voters. During his tenure as mayor, he introduced several reforms and built a strong support base among the youth.
However, Shah has also been viewed by some as having an anti-India stance. He has frequently argued that Nepal should reduce India’s influence in its internal affairs and had earlier demanded restrictions on Bollywood films in the country. His opposition to the depiction of Sita as an Indian daughter in the film “Adipurush” had triggered controversy and led to a temporary ban on Hindi film screenings in Nepal. While supporters see his actions as a reflection of Nepali nationalism, critics believe they could affect relations between India and Nepal.