Kathmandu is buzzing as vote counting unfolds from Nepal’s parliamentary elections held on March 5. Early trends show a seismic shift in the country’s politics. The National Independent Party (RSP) is surging ahead, leading in 35 out of 43 counted seats, according to Nepali media reports.
At the forefront of this upset is Balendra Shah, the former mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City and RSP’s prime ministerial candidate. In the eastern Nepal constituency of Jhapa-5, Shah is decisively ahead of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Initial tallies from online portal Ekantipur reveal Shah with 1,478 votes against Oli’s mere 385. This is Oli’s traditional stronghold, making the lead all the more stunning.
RSP’s strong performance signals a broader rejection of Nepal’s entrenched political parties. The party, led by former media personality Rabi Lamichhane, aims to dismantle decades of dominance by traditional forces. Latest updates indicate RSP leading in 39 electoral areas, followed by Nepali Congress in three, and the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) in two. Shockingly, Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) or CPN-UML holds no leads anywhere.
The elections use a mixed system: First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) for 165 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives, with proportional representation filling the rest. These polls come six months after Gen-Z protests toppled Oli’s coalition government last September, fueled by frustration over traditional parties stalling national progress.
As counting continues, RSP’s momentum suggests the old guard—Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and the Maoist Centre-Unified Socialist merger—may lose their iron grip. Voters appear ready for fresh leadership to tackle Nepal’s challenges, from economic woes to governance reforms. Shah’s early dominance in Jhapa-5 could propel him toward the prime minister’s office, marking a new chapter in Nepali democracy.