Nepal Election Update: Gen Z Icon Balendra Shah Overtakes KP Sharma Oli in Early Trends
Nepal counts votes in its first election since Gen Z protests ousted the Oli government last year.
Vote counting is underway in Nepal’s general elections, with rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah emerging as an early frontrunner against former prime minister KP Sharma Oli in the Jhapa constituency. Initial trends suggest Shah, popularly known as Balen, is leading Oli on his home turf as ballots continue to be tallied following Thursday’s nationwide vote. The elections mark the country’s first parliamentary poll since large-scale youth-led protests last year forced the resignation of Oli’s government.
The 35-year-old Shah, widely popular among young voters and social media users, drew large crowds during campaign rallies across the country. His rise in politics has been closely linked to the surge of youth-driven activism that swept Nepal last year. Known previously for his career in rap music before entering politics, Shah joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party, led by former television host turned politician Rabi Lamichhane, in December. His campaign message focused on governance reforms, anti-corruption efforts, and political accountability.
Shah also played a prominent role during the protests that erupted in September, when young demonstrators took to the streets alleging widespread corruption and demanding systemic reforms. The unrest eventually resulted in the fall of the government led by Oli. In the aftermath, an interim administration headed by former chief justice Sushila Karki was formed to oversee the transition and organise fresh elections. Shah emerged as an informal voice of the protest movement and a symbol of generational change in Nepali politics.
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Early nationwide trends indicate that Shah’s party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party, is performing strongly in the election. Preliminary results suggest the party is leading in more than 20 parliamentary seats, signalling a significant shift in voter sentiment toward newer political forces. Meanwhile, traditional political heavyweights, including the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) led by Oli and the Nepali Congress associated with Gagan Thapa, are reportedly ahead in three seats each as counting continues.
Elsewhere in the country, veteran leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal, a three-time prime minister and head of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), is leading in the Rukum East constituency according to early results. Approximately 60 per cent of the country’s 19 million eligible voters cast ballots in the election to choose members of the House of Representatives. More than 3,400 candidates from 65 political parties are contesting the polls, making it one of the most competitive elections in recent years.
The election results are being closely watched by neighbouring India due to the historically close diplomatic, economic and cultural ties between the two countries. India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal recently stated that New Delhi continues to support peace, stability and democratic processes in Nepal. He added that India looks forward to working with the incoming government to further strengthen bilateral relations and noted that India had also provided logistical support for conducting the elections.
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