Ex-Rapper's New Party Wins Landslide Victory in Nepal Election
Nepal's political landscape has been dramatically reshaped by a landslide victory for the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by 35-year-old former rapper Balendra Shah. In the first parliamentary elections since youth-led protests toppled the government last fall, Shah's party, formed only in 2022, is set to secure a commanding two-thirds majority, having won 124 seats. The result decimates the country's traditional political strongholds and unseats veteran leaders, including former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli. The resounding victory is widely seen as a powerful mandate for change from an electorate, particularly young voters, frustrated with the established political class. Shah's campaign successfully harnessed a wave of public anger, focusing on core issues such as improving health and education for poor Nepalis. His background as a popular rapper and his prior role as mayor of Kathmandu provided a platform of anti-establishment credibility that resonated deeply with voters seeking a break from the status quo. This election outcome guarantees a significant realignment of power in the Himalayan nation. The scale of the RSP's win positions Balendra Shah as the prime ministerial candidate poised to lead a new government, signaling a generational shift in Nepal's politics and setting the stage for substantial policy changes.
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Sources
A new Nepali party, led by an ex-rapper, is set for a landslide win in parliamentary election : NPR
A Nepali political party led by an ex-rapper is set for a landslide victory in the country's first parliamentary election since Gen Z protests ousted the old leadership that has ruled the Himalayan nation for decades.
Nepal elections: Balen Shah's RSP sweeps 124 seats, heads for two-thirds majority - India Today
Nepal’s political landscape is ... sweeping victory in the March 5 parliamentary elections, decimating several veteran leaders and dismantling long-standing party strongholds across the Himalayan nation. As of the latest count, the RSP -- a party formed only in 2022 -- has won 124 seats and is leading in another, putting it on track for a two-thirds majority in Parliament. In contrast, the Nepali Congress has ...
Former rapper and Gen Z's candidate poised to win Nepali election by landslide | CBC Accessibility
Former rapper and Gen Z's candidate poised to win Nepali election by landslide | CBC Accessibility Loaded ... In a resounding victory that is guaranteed to reshape Nepal's politics, rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah appeared headed for a landslide win in the South Asian country's first polls since youth-led protests toppled the previous government last fall. Salimah Shivji · CBC News ...
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