Early results of Nepal’s general elections held on 5 March 2026 indicate a major political shift, with Balen Shah’s Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) heading toward a historic victory. According to the Election Commission of Nepal, the RSP has already won 18 seats and is leading in 99 of the 165 directly elected constituencies. If this trend continues, 35-year-old Balen Shah, a rapper-turned-politician and former Kathmandu mayor, could become Nepal’s youngest Prime Minister and lead the country’s first majority government in 27 years.
The elections were conducted for 275 parliamentary seats (165 First-Past-the-Post and 110 proportional representation), with a voter turnout of around 60%, the lowest since 1991. The polls were triggered by Gen Z protests in September 2025, which forced the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli.
Traditional parties such as the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML are trailing significantly, each leading in only about 11 constituencies. Key campaign issues included anti-corruption measures, youth employment, and political reforms. The results are also being closely watched internationally, especially by India and China, due to Nepal’s strategic importance in the region.
