Balendra Shah, a former rapper known as Balen Shah, led his Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) to a commanding victory in Nepal's general election held on Thursday, March 5. With nearly all results reported by Sunday, the RSP secured 124 of the 165 first-past-the-post seats in the 275-member House of Representatives and led in proportional representation votes, giving it a clear majority to form the next government.

Shah, 35, personally defeated former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli in the Jhapa-5 constituency by a record margin of 49,614 votes. Shah received 68,348 votes, or 66.79 percent, while Oli garnered 18,734. This marked the largest victory margin in Nepal's parliamentary election history. Oli, who had won the seat with 52,319 votes in 2022, congratulated Shah on social media, wishing him a successful term.

The election was the first national vote since youth-led protests in September 2025 toppled the previous government amid anger over corruption, youth unemployment, and a social media ban. The demonstrations, which resulted in at least 77 deaths, forced Oli's resignation and the dissolution of parliament. An interim administration under Sushila Karki oversaw the snap poll.

Traditional parties suffered heavy losses. The Nepali Congress won 17 seats, the CPN-UML eight seats, and the CPN-Maoist Centre seven. Nepali Congress leader Gagan Thapa and other veteran politicians also lost their races.

Shah rose to prominence as a rapper with socially conscious tracks criticizing corruption and inequality, such as "Balidan." A trained civil engineer, he became Kathmandu's first independent mayor in 2022, winning with 61,767 votes. During his tenure until January 2026, he focused on waste management, traffic improvements, and heritage preservation, though he faced controversies over demolitions and evictions. He joined the RSP in December 2025 as its prime ministerial candidate, energizing a youth base that includes over 40 percent of Nepal's population under 35.

The RSP's manifesto promises 1.2 million jobs, doubling GDP to $100 billion, and universal healthcare insurance. Party chair Rabi Lamichhane and others also secured strong wins, such as in Chitwan constituencies. Analysts see the result as a generational shift, with Shah positioned to lead as prime minister pending formalities.