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Balen Shah Leads KP Oli in Nepal Polls as New Party Sweeps Early Count

Prime ministerial candidate Balendra Shah is leading former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in the Jhapa-5 constituency in Nepal's parliamentary elections. His party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party, is achieving a sweeping early lead, ahead in 39 constituencies according to latest updates. This signals a potential end to the decades-long dominance of traditional parties like the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML. The election follows Gen Z protests that ousted the previous coalition government, with voters seemingly rejecting established political leadership.

Key Points: Balen Shah Leads KP Oli in Nepal Parliamentary Elections

  • Shah leads Oli in Jhapa-5
  • RSP leads in 39 constituencies
  • Traditional parties face major setback
  • Elections follow Gen Z protests
2 min read

Nepal polls: Prime Ministerial aspirant Balen Shah takes early lead over KP Oli

Early results show PM candidate Balendra Shah leading former PM KP Oli, with his Rastriya Swatantra Party sweeping Nepal's parliamentary polls.

"Shah has secured 1,478 votes, while Oli has received 385 votes. - Ekantipur"

Kathmandu, March 6

Prime Ministerial candidate from the Rastriya Swatantra Party, Balendra Shah, is leading against former PM K.P. Sharma Oli in Jhapa-5 in eastern Nepal, as the RSP takes a sweeping early lead in the country's parliamentary elections.

Shah, the former mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, is locked in a contest with Oli in the latter's traditional political stronghold in a battle between two prime ministerial aspirants.

According to the early vote count on the online portal Ekantipur, Shah has secured 1,478 votes, while Oli has received 385 votes.

Besides Shah's lead, his party -- the RSP -- is also taking a sweeping lead in early vote counting, as the relatively new political party seeks to end the decades-long dominance of traditional political parties in national politics.

According to the latest update, the RSP is leading in 39 electoral constituencies, followed by the Nepali Congress, which is ahead in three constituencies. The Nepali Communist Party (NCP) is leading in two constituencies, while the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), led by former Prime Minister Oli, has no lead in any constituency.

Vote counting is underway under the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system, through which 165 members of the House of Representatives, the Lower House of Parliament, will be elected. An additional 110 members will be elected through the proportional representation system to make up the 275-member Lower House.

Early results suggest that the decades-long dominance of three major political parties -- the Nepali Congress, the CPN-UML, and the Nepal Communist Party, formed after the merger of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist), among others -- may be coming to an end.

The country is holding its first elections after the Gen Z protests in September last year, which brought down the coalition government led by then-Prime Minister Oli. A growing perception among the Nepali public that the country was lagging behind because of traditional parties and their leadership had triggered strong Gen Z protests.

As the elections were held six months after the Gen Z revolt, traditional political parties appear to be performing poorly, while the relatively new political force -- the RSP, led by former media personality Rabi Lamichhane -- is making a strong showing in the polls.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Wow, Balen Shah leading in Oli's own stronghold! The youth power is real. In India too, we need more young leaders who are connected to ground realities, not just dynastic politics. All the best to Nepal for a smooth democratic process.
R
Rohit P
A stable and prosperous Nepal is in India's interest. Hope the new leadership, if it comes, will work on strengthening ties and resolving any outstanding issues pragmatically. The Gen Z revolt shows people are tired of empty promises.
M
Michael C
Watching from Delhi. This is a significant shift. The RSP leading in 39 constituencies is a massive mandate for change. Hope it translates into good governance. The India-Nepal relationship is special, hope it grows stronger.
S
Siddharth J
Respectfully, while change is good, we must be cautious. A completely new party with sweeping power can face huge challenges in administration. Hope they have a solid team and plan, not just popular appeal. Wishing Nepal the best.
N
Nisha Z
As an Indian, I feel happy for our neighbours. When people vote for change, it energizes the whole democracy. Balen Shah was a good mayor, they say. Let's see if he can be a good PM. Jai Nepal! 🙏

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