In a stunning upset sweeping through Nepal’s election results, Rabi Lamichhane’s Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is racing ahead, with the charismatic leader himself delivering a knockout blow in Chitwan constituency-2. Polling 54,402 votes, Lamichhane crushed Nepali Congress challenger Meena Kharel’s 14,564, marking his third consecutive win from the same seat.
Chitwan has evolved into RSP’s stronghold since Lamichhane’s political debut in 2022. That year, he stormed into the House of Representatives, only for the Supreme Court to strip his seat in late January 2023 over a botched citizenship process tied to his American passport surrender. The ruling cost him not just his MP status but also his home minister role and party presidency temporarily.
Resilience defined his comeback: In April 2023 bypolls, he returned with a vengeance, amassing more votes than before. Lamichhane’s past, including recent custody over cooperative scams, hasn’t dimmed his appeal. His masterstroke? Teaming up with Balen Shah, the hip-hop artist now mayor, who’s outpacing ex-PM Oli in Jhapa-5.
RSP’s tally stands at 20 secured seats, leading in 95 of 165 FPTP races. This surge buries veterans Nepali Congress and CPN-UML in the dust, hinting at a Gen-Z prime minister in Balen Shah. As ballots are tallied nationwide, Lamichhane’s victory underscores a voter revolt against entrenched corruption and dynastic politics, potentially heralding a fresh era in Nepali democracy.