Nepal’s parliamentary election results are signalling a major political shift, with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) emerging as the dominant force and reshaping the country’s political landscape.
Early results show the RSP pulling far ahead of traditional parties. The Nepali Congress has secured only 11 seats so far, while the CPN-UML has won five. The RSP has also taken a strong lead in the proportional representation vote, receiving more than 625,000 ballots—more than three times the tally of the Nepali Congress.
One of the most closely watched races took place in Jhapa-5, where 35-year-old RSP leader Balendra Shah defeated former prime minister and CPN-UML chair K.P. Sharma Oli by a large margin. Shah secured more than 68,000 votes, while Oli received fewer than 19,000. The result has been widely viewed as a symbolic generational shift in Nepali politics.
RSP chair Rabi Lamichhane also recorded a decisive victory in Chitwan-2, winning the constituency with over 54,000 votes. His closest rival from the Nepali Congress finished far behind, giving Lamichhane his third consecutive electoral win and reinforcing his position within the party.
Analysts say the results reflect strong voter frustration with established political parties and growing support for calls for clean governance and generational change.
However, observers note that the incoming leadership will face significant challenges, including managing domestic governance expectations and balancing Nepal’s sensitive geopolitical relationships with major international powers.