In a stunning development from Nepal’s ongoing vote count, independent firebrand Balendra Shah is demolishing KP Oli’s hopes in Jhapa-5. The Kathmandu mayor, running under the Rastriya Swatantra Party banner, holds a commanding 25,795-vote lead with 34,863 ballots tallied. This upset against the seasoned former PM underscores a voter revolt against Nepal’s old guard.
Victory bells also rang for Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ in Rukum East-1, where he amassed 10,240 votes for a 6,778-vote triumph. As the only ‘big three’ leader to prevail, Prachanda’s success offers a glimmer of continuity amid sweeping change.
These March 5 elections follow the dramatic 2025 ouster of Oli’s administration by youth-led protests. The nascent RSP is leading nationwide, challenging giants like Nepali Congress, whose president Gagan Thapa lags badly in Sarlahi-4 against RSP’s Amresh Kumar Singh.
Shah’s appeal stems from his no-nonsense tenure as mayor, where he rooted out graft and modernized infrastructure. RSP spokesperson Manish Jha urged restraint and responsibility on X: ‘Our enemies are corruption and poverty, not competitors. We’ve been entrusted with huge hopes.’ Finance Minister Rameshwor Khanal echoed this, dismissing doubts about forming a stable government.
Observers note RSP’s surge reflects deep public anger over entrenched elites. With counting still underway, the party eyes a transformative mandate. This election could end the cycle of unstable coalitions, ushering in fresh governance focused on accountability and development.