A former rapper is on track to win Nepal’s first election since youth-driven protests toppled the incumbent political leadership last year.
Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, who won the Kathmandu mayoral race in 2022, has emerged as Nepal’s likely next prime minister.
The party he leads, the Rastriya Swatantra (RSP) or National Independent Party, has already won 117 of 165 directly elected seats and is ahead in eight other constituencies, results published on Sunday morning show.
Mr Shah emerged as a leading figure in the 2025 uprising, ignited by Gen Z led protests which ousted former prime minister Khadga Prasad Oli.
The engineering graduate has been prominent in Nepal’s hip hop scene for several years, performing under the name Balen.
One of his songs, “Balidan”, which means sacrifice in the Nepali language – sees Mr Shah take on the country’s upper class, and has attracted more than 12 million views on YouTube.
Mr Shah has run on a campaign promising to lift Nepal’s per capita income, double the country’s economy to $100bn GDP and create jobs.
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The election results suggest his message has resonated with voters in Nepal, where 20% of the 30 million population live in poverty.
Other political parties and independent candidates have won 36 seats in total so far.
In Nepal, voters directly elect 165 members to the House of Representatives, and the remaining 110 seats in the 275-member body are allocated through a proportional representation system.
Mr Shah’s party is also leading this tally, with about 51% of 110 seats.
Voters fill out two ballot papers, one to choose a candidate of their choice who is usually a political party nominee and the other to choose a party they prefer.
The vote count is still under way, and the final results are expected later in the week.
The relatively new RSP has unseated the two dominant parties, the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal, who have alternated terms in government.
RSP supporters have been publicly celebrating the election win, offering the winners flower garlands, bouquets and scarves, and smearing them with red vermilion powder.
“The future prime minister has clearly spoken that there will be no compromise when it comes to developing the country,” said RSP party member and volunteer Khagendra Chapagain.
“Our first agenda is to develop nation, and focus will be to work for health, education and the fight against corruption.”
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Party officials have asked their candidates and supporters to refrain from victory rallies or other public celebrations out of respect for the lives lost during last year’s protests.
The demonstrations against corruption and poor governance were triggered by a social media ban, which snowballed into an uprising that culminated in Mr Oli resigning.
An estimated 77 people were killed and hundreds injured during the protests.
Analysts said the party would have comfortable numbers in the parliament to form a single-party government but faces challenges running the government.
“The problem or challenge with this new party would be to deliver things, given the limited resources and the limited institutional support,” said Keshab Prasad Poudel, an independent analyst.
“Because people have high expectations, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the new party can fulfil it.”
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The Himalayan country has struggled with economic uncertainty and political instability since protests led to its monarchy being abolished in 2008.
