Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) prime ministerial candidate Balendra Shah casting his vote in Nepal’s general election, in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, March 5, 2026. (PTI Photo)
Nepal Election Results 2026 Live: The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), formed by rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, was heading for a landslide victory in Nepal’s first general elections since the violent Generation Z protests, breaking the stranglehold of established political parties in the politically fragile nation.
According to Electoral Commission data available in 161 of a total of 165 electoral districts, the RSP has won four seats and is ahead in another 110, local media reported. His party is seen as posing a serious challenge to Nepal’s established political forces.
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Popularly known as ‘Balen’, the 35-year-old engineer is expected to be Nepal’s next prime minister, reflecting a public sentiment of rejection of established parties. Nepal has had 14 governments in the last 18 years.
Other major parties, including the CPN-UML, Nepali Congress and Rastriya Prajatantra Party, are trailing in several constituencies as counting continues. Trends suggest growing support for the RSP in key seats.
Vote counting is still ongoing and final results are expected later, but the clues underline the party’s strong momentum in Jhapa and other parts of the country.
The elections took place on Thursday and electoral authorities reported a voter turnout of around 60 percent.
Several major political figures and parties are vying for power. Key contenders include KP Sharma Oli’s Nepal Communist Party (unified Marxist-Leninist), Sher Bahadur Deuba’s Nepali Congress and Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s Nepal Communist Party (Maoist Centre).
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