Rapper Balendra Shah Wins Nepal Election, Defeating Former PM

Balendra Shah, 35, known simply as "Balen" to his supporters, defeated four-time former prime minister KP Sharma Oli in his own parliamentary constituency, securing 68,348 votes against Oli's 18,734. His party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), is heading for a landslide victory in the country's first general election since youth-led protests toppled the government in September 2025.

According to Nepal's Election Commission, the RSP has already won over 100 of 165 directly elected seats and is leading in several others. It holds a commanding lead in the proportional representation vote as well. If the results hold, Shah will become the first Madhesi prime minister in Nepal's history and the youngest to hold the position.

Who Is Balendra Shah, Nepal Election Winner

Shah trained as a civil engineer before breaking through as one of Nepal's most prominent rappers. His song "Balidan," meaning sacrifice, accumulated millions of views on YouTube and later became an anthem of the 2025 protests. He first entered politics in 2022 when he was elected Kathmandu's mayor as an independent candidate.

His RSP party was founded the same year on an anti-corruption, anti-nepotism platform. Ahead of this election, the party ran a highly organized campaign with a 660-person social media operation and significant financial backing from the Nepali diaspora, particularly in the United States.

Shah's manifesto promises to create 1.2 million jobs, reduce forced migration, raise Nepal's per capita income from $1,447 to $3,000, and more than double the country's GDP to $100 billion within five years. The party has also pledged universal healthcare insurance for Nepal's population.

Nepal Gen Z Protests That Led to the 2026 Election

Thursday's vote was the first since violent protests swept Nepal in September 2025. The unrest began after Oli's government imposed a temporary ban on social media but quickly expanded into a broader movement against corruption, nepotism, and economic stagnation. According to a BBC investigation, Nepal's police chief issued a lethal fire order against unarmed protesters. At least 77 people were killed.

President Ram Chandra Poudel dissolved parliament on September 12, 2025, and appointed former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as caretaker prime minister to organize new elections. Nearly 18.9 million voters were registered for Thursday's vote, including 800,000 first-time voters. Turnout reached approximately 60 percent.

Shah had declined to lead the interim government after Oli's ouster, stating he preferred to seek a full democratic mandate. He joined the RSP in January 2026 and was named the party's prime ministerial candidate shortly after.

Rastriya Swatantra Party Victory and Nepal Election Results

Shah did not address crowds after his personal victory was confirmed. He toured the streets of his new constituency wearing his signature dark sunglasses, waving from a car rooftop as supporters chanted his name.

Oli congratulated Shah on social media platform X. "Congratulations! Wish you a smooth and successful five-year tenure," Oli wrote. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended congratulations, reaffirming India's commitment to working closely with Nepal's new government.

The RSP swept all 10 constituencies in Kathmandu district and performed strongly across the country. Other parties trailed significantly. The Nepali Congress won 13 seats, Oli's Communist Party of Nepal won 7, and the Nepali Communist Party secured 6.

In the proportional representation count, the RSP received 1,148,725 votes, followed by the Nepali Congress with 379,964 and the Communist Party of Nepal with 304,842.

Full results, including final proportional representation counts, are expected within the week. Formal government formation talks will follow.