In a dramatic twist to Nepal’s political landscape, early election results are favoring outsider Balendra Shah over veteran KP Oli in the race for prime minister. The March 5 parliamentary polls’ counting has revealed the National Independent Party (RSP) dominating initial counts, ahead in 35 of 43 seats.
Shah, known for his dynamic tenure as Kathmandu’s mayor, is crushing expectations in Jhapa-5, a bastion of Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist). Ekantipur’s live updates show Shah polling 1,478 votes to Oli’s 385—a gap that underscores voter discontent with the old regime.
RSP, under Rabi Lamichhane’s leadership, is rewriting the script across 39 constituencies, leaving Nepali Congress with three leads and NCP with two. CPN-UML trails without a single advantage. This underdog story stems from last year’s Gen-Z uprising, which ousted Oli’s coalition amid cries for change against stagnant traditional parties.
Under the FPTP system, 165 directly elected members will join 110 from proportional lists to form the lower house. The elections, held six months post-protests, reflect a youth-driven pushback against decades of dominance by Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and communist factions.
If trends hold, RSP could force a coalition rethink, with Shah emerging as a frontrunner for PM. This shift promises to invigorate Nepal’s democracy, prioritizing anti-corruption and modernization over familiar faces. Political analysts watch closely as final tallies could redefine power in Kathmandu.