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Rapper-Turned-Mayor Balen Shah Defeats KP Oli, Set to Become Nepal's PM

Balendra Shah, the former rapper and Mayor of Kathmandu, has won the parliamentary election from Jhapa-5, decisively defeating former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. His party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has swept the election and is on course to secure an outright majority in the House of Representatives. With the party's leadership confirming him as the parliamentary leader, Shah is now set to become Nepal's next Prime Minister. This victory marks a stunning national rise for the 35-year-old, just four years after his unexpected win as Kathmandu's Mayor.

Key Points: Balen Shah Defeats KP Oli, Set to Be Nepal's Next Prime Minister

  • Balen Shah defeats KP Sharma Oli by wide margin
  • Rastriya Swatantra Party secures parliamentary majority
  • Shah poised to become one of Nepal's youngest PMs
  • Victory marks rapid rise from Kathmandu Mayor to national leader
2 min read

Nepal: Balen defeats Oli with a wide margin, secures the Prime Ministership

Former rapper and Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah wins parliamentary seat, defeating ex-PM KP Sharma Oli. His RSP party secures a majority, making him the next Prime Minister.

"the parliamentary leader and future Prime Minister will be Balen Shah - DP Aryal"

Kathmandu, March 7

Former Rapper and Mayor of Kathmandu Balendra Shah has won the parliamentary election from Jhapa-5, defeating his arch rival, former Nepali Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, the Election Commission announced.

With this, Balen has confirmed his Prime Ministership as he makes his way to the lower house of the parliament.

As per the Election Commission, Balen secured 68,348 votes while former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli trailed behind with 18,734 votes.

With this win, the Senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is set to become the next Prime Minister as the party has swept the election, securing a comfortable majority.

As per the results of the Election Commission, the RSP, formed about four years ago, has won 59 seats under the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) category while maintaining a lead in 62 constituencies. The RSP is on course to secure an outright majority. Party leaders have repeatedly reassured the public that there is no internal dispute over the premiership.

First-ranking vice-chairperson DP Aryal said the party's top leaders, including Rabi Lamichhane and Balen Shah, were the reason voters supported the party, and the parliamentary leader and future Prime Minister will be Balen Shah.

The combined tally of direct and proportional seats exceeds the 138-seat majority threshold in the 275-member House of Representatives.

The government formation process is expected to begin shortly, with swearing-in ceremonies for the new MPs. The outgoing Prime Minister Sushila Karki has expressed readiness to hand over authority respectfully once the new mandate is formalised.

The RSP leadership has repeatedly stressed transparency and fidelity to voter expectations, ensuring that Balen Shah's premiership reflects both party decisions and public mandate.

In 2022, a structural engineer with a signature pair of black rectangular sunglasses and a history in the underground rap scene did the unthinkable. Shah dismantled the established political machinery of Nepal to become the Mayor of Kathmandu.

Running as an independent under the symbol of a walking stick, Balen secured 61,767 votes, comfortably outstripping veterans Sirjana Singh of Nepali Congress, who fell back with 38,341 votes, while CPN-UML candidate Keshav Sthapit, also the former Mayor of the capital, got 38,117 votes.

Now, just four years later, the 35-year-old is no longer just a local phenomenon; he is poised to become one of the youngest Prime Ministers in the nation's history.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
A 35-year-old PM! This is inspiring for young people across South Asia. It shows that if you connect with the public's real issues, age or a traditional political background doesn't matter. Hope he focuses on development and good relations with neighbours.
R
Rohit P
Defeating KP Sharma Oli with such a huge margin is no small feat. Oli was a heavyweight. This is a massive political earthquake in Nepal. Let's see how this impacts India-Nepal ties. Stability there is good for the entire region.
S
Sarah B
Interesting development. While his rise is remarkable, governing a country is very different from running a city or making music. I hope his party has solid policy experts behind him. The real test begins now.
V
Vikram M
The walking stick symbol won again! Jokes aside, this is a clear mandate for change. Nepali youth were tired of the same old faces and promises. Hope he delivers on transparency and doesn't get lost in the power corridors of Singha Durbar.
M
Michael C
As an observer, this is fascinating. A four-year-old party securing a majority? It shows a complete collapse of trust in traditional parties. A lesson for all democracies about the price of not delivering for the common citizen.

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