KATHMANDU, Nepal — In a groundbreaking shift in Nepal’s political landscape, a party founded by an ex-rapper is poised to achieve a significant victory in the nation’s first parliamentary election since the widespread protests led by Gen Z toppled the longstanding political establishment.
The Rastriya Swatantra Party, also known as the National Independent Party, was established just four years ago. As of Sunday morning, it had secured 117 out of 165 directly elected seats, with leads in eight additional constituencies, according to the latest results from Nepal’s Election Commission.
Meanwhile, other political factions and independent candidates had collectively garnered 36 seats. The vote counting continued on Sunday, with the final results anticipated later in the week.
Balendra Shah, a former rapper who transitioned into politics, is the party’s candidate for prime minister. Shah gained prominence after winning the 2022 mayoral election in Kathmandu and became a key figure during the 2025 uprising that led to the ousting of former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli.
In Nepal’s electoral system, voters directly choose 165 members for the House of Representatives, the lower house of Parliament. The remaining 110 seats in the 275-member assembly are filled through a proportional representation system, which allocates seats based on the percentage of votes each party receives. As of Sunday, the RSP was leading in this category as well, with approximately 51% of the 110 seats.
This emerging RSP has managed to dethrone the two dominant forces in Nepali politics: the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), which have alternately governed the country for years.
Local papers called the sweeping win a historic moment. “RSP set for a landslide victory,” said the popular Himalayan Times. “People’s ballot revolt; shift in political paradigm,” said Annapurna Post.
RSP supporters have been celebrating the win in several constituencies, offering the winners flower garlands, bouquets, scarves and smearing them with red vermilion powder.
“The future prime minister (Shah) has clearly spoken that there will be no compromise when it comes to developing the country,” said RSP party member and volunteer Khagendra Chapagain, who was at the party headquarters in Kathmandu. “Our first agenda is to develop nation, and focus will be to work for health, education and the fight against corruption.”
The party officials, however, have asked their candidates and supporters to refrain from victory rallies or any other public celebrations out of respect for the dozens of lives lost during last year’s youth-led protests.
In Nepal, voters get two ballot papers, one to choose a candidate of their choice who is usually a political party nominee and the other to choose a party they prefer.
RSP clearly has more than half the directly elected seats and the results of the second ballot also show the party has more than 50% of the votes in its favor. They require the support of half the total number of members in the lower chamber of Parliament to form a government.
Analysts say the party would have comfortable numbers in the parliament to form a single-party government but faces challenges running the government.
“The problem or challenge with this new party would be to deliver things, given the limited resources and the limited institutional support. Because people have high expectations, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the new party can fulfill it,” said Keshab Prasad Poudel, an independent analyst.
Last year’s protests against corruption and poor governance were triggered by a social media ban before snowballing into a popular revolt against the government. Dozens were killed and hundreds wounded when protesters attacked government buildings and police opened fire on them.
