Kathmandu is buzzing with excitement as early trends from Nepal’s parliamentary elections point to a seismic shift in the political landscape. The Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by former media personality Rabi Lamichhane, is dominating the vote count, capturing the imagination of a youth-driven electorate desperate for change.
Lamichhane himself has secured a resounding victory in Chitwan-2, clinching 54,402 votes against his nearest rival, Nepali Congress’s Meena Kharel, who garnered just 14,564. This marks the third time Lamichhane has triumphed in this constituency, solidifying Chitwan as RSP’s unbreakable fortress over the past three years.
His journey from television anchor to political powerhouse has been nothing short of dramatic. Elected in 2022, Lamichhane’s parliamentary seat was revoked by the Supreme Court in January 2023 after his citizenship was deemed invalid due to irregularities involving his U.S. citizenship renunciation. Undeterred, he bounced back in April 2023 by-elections with an even larger margin, reclaiming his position.
But Lamichhane’s controversies extend beyond citizenship woes. Just months ago, he faced arrest over alleged fraud in cooperative societies, only to be released on court orders ahead of these elections. Now, his strategic alliance with rapper-turned-mayor Balen Shah is paying dividends. Shah is leading against former PM KP Sharma Oli in Jhapa-5, while RSP has already won 20 seats and leads in 95 of the 165 first-past-the-post constituencies.
Traditional giants like Nepali Congress and CPN-UML are trailing far behind, signaling the rise of a new Gen-Z favorite. With RSP poised for a potential prime ministerial run via Shah, Nepal’s politics could see its youngest-ever leader at the helm. As counting continues, the nation watches if this anti-establishment wave will reshape governance for good.