Nepal’s Early Vote Count Positions Ex-Rapper’s Party as Leader

Initial election results in Nepal have shown a significant advantage for Balendra Shah’s political party, with early counts indicating a strong lead over other contenders, including the nation’s former prime minister, who stepped down following a historic youth-driven protest last year.

Balendra Shah, a 35-year-old former mayor of Kathmandu, has emerged as a central figure in the race for Nepal’s prime ministership. His centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party, established three years ago, appears to be gaining momentum, securing 37 parliamentary seats in preliminary tallies.

In contrast, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist – UML), led by 74-year-old K P Sharma Oli, holds a lead in just three seats. Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress, under 49-year-old Gagan Thapa, is ahead in five seats, according to the election commission’s early trends released on Friday morning.

Election System Overview

With a total of 275 seats in the lower house of parliament, 165 are being decided through direct elections, while the remaining 110 will be allocated via proportional representation. Officials anticipate final results by Friday evening or Saturday.

Political instability has long affected Nepal, a country of 30 million people situated between China and India. This instability has hindered the agrarian economy, exacerbated unemployment, and been worsened by widespread corruption. These challenges culminated in street demonstrations in September, sparked by a social media ban, which led to significant public unrest, clashes, and deaths, ultimately forcing Oli’s resignation.

Shah’s campaign has resonated strongly with young voters, drawing large crowds both online and in person. He has also competed directly against Oli in the Jhapa 5 constituency, a key area near the Indian border.