A political party led by a former rapper has won a huge majority in Nepal's parliament. This marks one of the most significant elections in the country's recent past.
Balendra Shah, a 35-year-old former civil engineer and hip-hop artist known as "Balen," leads the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). The party secured 182 out of 275 seats in the lower house. They won 125 seats directly and 57 through proportional representation.
The Nepali Congress party came in second with 38 seats. The Marxist party of Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, a four-time prime minister, won only 25 seats. Shah even defeated the 74-year-old Oli in his own district. Oli, who once dominated Nepali politics, congratulated Shah on X, wishing him a "smooth and successful" term.
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Start Your News DetoxA New Political Era
The RSP was founded just four years ago, the same year Shah became Kathmandu's first independent mayor. The party ran a well-organized campaign, supported by funding from Nepalis living abroad, especially in the United States.
Shah's journey from engineer to rapper to mayor, and now likely prime minister, shows a big shift in Nepal. Over 40% of the country's nearly 30 million people are under 35. However, established political leaders have often been in their 70s.
Shah said his victory means people are refusing to take "the easy way out." He believes it's a response to the "problems and betrayals that have affected the country."
Roots of the Movement
The political landscape in Nepal changed after protests in September 2025. These protests started because the government banned social media. They quickly grew into a large movement against corruption and a struggling economy, leading to at least 77 deaths.
Shah's music had often addressed these same issues. His song "Nepal Haseko" (Nepal Smiling) gained over 10 million views on YouTube during the unrest.
Nepalese journalist Pranaya Rana noted that Shah represents "the outsider spirit that many young Nepalis are looking for to shake up the status quo."
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the election a "proud moment" for Nepal's democracy. He promised close cooperation with the new government.
The next steps involve parties submitting names for proportionally allocated seats. Then, the president will formally call parliament into session. A new prime minister, who needs support from at least half of all members, is expected to be confirmed in a few days.
