- Balendra Shah gains majority support as RSP leads Nepal elections
- Balendra Shah’s rise follows Gen Z protests and political crisis in Nepal
Nepal is set to witness the formation of a new government as Balendra Shah appears likely to secure the majority required to become the Prime Minister. The development follows recent parliamentary elections in the Himalayan nation. Early indications show that the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by Balendra Shah, is moving towards a strong victory.
The political shift comes after a period of instability in Nepal. Last year, the country faced a major crisis following large scale protests by Gen Z youth. The agitation began after the government banned social media platforms. The protests quickly intensified and led to violent incidents over two days. As a result, both the President and the Prime Minister were forced to resign.
Meanwhile, the elections held on Thursday marked a crucial moment in Nepal’s political landscape. Voters appeared to reject traditional political parties. Out of the 275 seats in the Nepalese Parliament, direct elections were conducted for 165 seats. According to the latest updates, the RSP is on the verge of victory in more than a hundred constituencies.
Balendra Shah emerges as central figure in Nepal elections
Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen Shah, has remained a major focus of public attention during this political transition. Born on April 27, 1990, in Naradevi, Kathmandu, he belongs to the Madhesi community. Before entering politics, he built a career as a rapper and musician.
Through his songs, he often criticized corruption in Nepal’s political and government systems. Later, he entered politics in 2022 and contested the Kathmandu mayoral election as an independent candidate. He won the election and later served as the Mayor of Kathmandu for four years. During that time, he introduced several reforms and gained strong support from young voters.
The Rashtriya Swatantra Party was founded in 2022 by Ravi Lamichhane. However, when Balendra Shah joined the party on January 18 this year, the party declared him as its prime ministerial candidate. Within two months, the party moved close to forming the government.
Political views and controversies surrounding Balendra Shah
Balendra Shah has often expressed strong views about Nepal’s sovereignty. He has argued that India should not have influence or dominance in Nepal. He has also demanded a ban on Bollywood films in the country.
Some of his decisions and social media posts have created controversy in India Nepal relations. For instance, he objected to Sita being described as an Indian daughter in the film Adipurush. Following this, he stopped the screening of Hindi films in Nepal, which sparked debate.
However, Shah maintains that his decisions are related to protecting Nepal’s sovereignty. Supporters say his actions reflect Nepali nationalism. At the same time, critics believe such moves could harm relations with India.
Nepal’s parliamentary system includes both direct elections and proportional representation. Out of the total 275 seats, voters directly elect representatives for 165 seats. The remaining 110 seats are filled through proportional representation based on votes received by parties.
At present, the Rashtriya Swatantra Party continues to dominate the election results with more than a hundred seats. Therefore, Balendra Shah now appears poised to secure the majority needed to become Nepal’s next Prime Minister.
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