Former Rapper’s Party Scores Major Victory in Nepal Elections

A political party established just four years ago and headed by a former rapper is poised to achieve a decisive victory in Nepal's parliamentary elections. The Rastriya Swatantra Party has secured 103 of 165 directly elected seats, marking a historic shift away from the country's traditional ruling parties.

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — A political organization headed by a former rapper appears headed for a commanding victory in Nepal’s parliamentary elections, marking the first such vote since Generation Z demonstrations removed longtime leadership that had governed the Himalayan country for many years.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party, also known as the National Independent Party, established just four years ago, has already secured 103 out of 165 directly elected positions and maintains leads in 21 additional districts according to results released Sunday morning by Nepal’s Election Commission.

Competing political organizations and independent contenders have captured 27 positions combined thus far. Election officials continued vote tallying on Sunday with complete results anticipated later this week.

The organization’s candidate for prime minister is Balendra Shah, a politician who previously worked as a rapper and secured Kathmandu’s mayoral position in 2022. Shah became a prominent leader during the 2025 demonstrations that removed former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli from power.

Nepal’s electoral system allows voters to directly select 165 representatives for the House of Representatives, Parliament’s lower chamber. The additional 110 positions in the 275-member legislature are distributed using proportional representation, where political organizations receive positions based on their voting percentage. On Sunday, RSP also maintained the lead with approximately 51% of those 110 positions.

The comparatively young RSP has displaced Nepal’s two historically powerful parties: the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), which have alternated control of the government.

Regional newspapers described the comprehensive victory as a watershed moment. “RSP set for a landslide victory,” reported the widely-read The Himalayan Times. “People’s ballot revolt; shift in political paradigm,” declared Annapurna Post.

RSP supporters have been marking the victory across multiple districts, presenting winners with flower garlands, bouquets, scarves and applying red vermilion powder.

Party leadership, however, has requested their candidates and supporters avoid victory parades or other public festivities to honor the numerous lives lost during last year’s youth-driven demonstrations.

Nepal’s voting system provides citizens with two ballots: one to select their preferred candidate, typically representing a political party, and another to choose their favored party.

RSP has clearly obtained more than half the directly elected positions, and second ballot outcomes also demonstrate the party has secured over 50% of votes in their favor. They need support from half the total members in Parliament’s lower chamber to establish a government.

Previous year’s demonstrations against corruption and inadequate governance began with a social media prohibition before expanding into widespread resistance against the administration. Numerous people died and hundreds suffered injuries when demonstrators targeted government facilities and police fired upon them.