Shah’s Rastriya Swatantra party secures thumping victory in first poll since gen Z protests that toppled government
Balendra Shah, the rapper turned politician and popular figurehead of a gen Z revolution, looks set to become Nepal’s next prime minister after his party won by an unprecedented margin.
Shah, known widely as Balen, and his Rastriya Swatantra party (RSP) secured a rare landslide victory in the first election since youth-led protests during which dozens were killed and the former government was toppled.
“It is the victory of hope and change,” said Ramesh Paudyal, a senior RSP leader. “It is the most beautiful endorsement of the gen Z movement. The true tribute to the gen Z martyrs will be expressed through the work carried out every day by the government led by Balendra Shah.”
The public upset and anger at the political old guard was evident in the results, with veteran parties and their leaders losing vast numbers of seats. Balen’s RSP, which was formed only three years ago by a former TV executive, was handed a rare outright majority.
