Rastriya Swatantra Party Poised for Historic Victory in Nepal Elections

The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is on the verge of a historic victory in Nepal's parliamentary elections, securing a two-thirds majority and nearly 4 million votes. With Balendra Shah poised to become the first Madhesi prime minister and the youngest leader in the country's history, this election marks a significant shift in Nepal's political landscape. The results indicate a decline in the influence of traditional parties, reflecting a growing support for new political forces. The elections follow last year's Gen Z protests, which demanded reforms and generational change in leadership. Discover more about this pivotal moment in Nepal's political history.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 9, 2026, 11:42 IST

RSP Achieves Significant Electoral Success

Kathmandu, Mar 9: The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is on track to secure a two-thirds majority in Nepal's parliamentary elections, having won 124 seats through direct voting and garnering nearly 4 million votes via the proportional voting system as of 7 AM on Monday.

The RSP has claimed 124 seats and is currently leading in one additional seat, while the Nepali Congress (NC) has secured 17 seats and is also leading in one.

The CPN-UML has achieved victory in eight seats and is leading in one, whereas the NCP has won seven seats.

The Shram Sanskriti Party has obtained three seats, and both the RPP and Independent candidates have each won one seat.

Results for 161 out of 165 seats have been announced under direct voting, with the remaining four expected to be revealed later in the afternoon.

In terms of proportional voting, the RSP has received 3,789,803 votes, the NC 1,275,594, the CPN-UML 1,079,726, the NCP 555,300, the Shram Sanskriti Party 265,398, the Janata Samajwadi Party 116,463, and the Rastriya Parivartan Party has secured 108,084 votes.

Nepal is poised to welcome its first Madhesi prime minister, Balendra Shah, who will also be the youngest executive leader in the nation's history.

This election signifies a pivotal change in Nepal's political dynamics, diminishing the influence of long-standing parties and highlighting a growing support for emerging political entities.

Earlier reports indicated the RSP winning 39 of the first 50 declared seats and leading in approximately 80 more during the counting phase.

These elections are the first following the significant Gen Z protests last year, which resulted in the collapse of the coalition government led by former prime minister K P Sharma Oli.

The protests called for extensive reforms, including the eradication of corruption, improved governance, and a generational shift in political leadership.

The RSP, established in 2022 by media figure and former home minister Ravi Lamichhane, has positioned Balendra Shah, affectionately known as “Balen,” as its candidate for prime minister.

A 35-year-old engineer, rapper-turned-politician, and former mayor of Kathmandu, Shah has become a prominent symbol of youth-driven political transformation during the campaign.