Nepal election results: Gen Z favourite Balendra Shah's RSP heading toward landslide victory

Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah's newly formed Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is heading towards a landslide victory in Nepal's first general elections since the violent Gen Z protests toppled the K P Sharma Oli-led government in September 2025.

According to the Election Commission's data available from 144 of the total 165 constituencies, the RSP has won three seats and is ahead in 104 others, local media reported.

The Nepali Congress has won two seats and is leading in 12 others, while the CPN-UML is leading in 10 constituencies. The Nepali Communist Party has won one and is leading in six constituencies.

The outcome is expected to provide a strong government in the politically fragile Nepal, which has had 14 governments in the last 18 years. Shah is leading and is set to win the Jhapa-5 constituency against former prime minister Oli. He has maintained a comfortable lead and has secured more than 13,000 votes.

Biraj Bhakta Shrestha won from Kathmandu 8, Ranju Darshana from Kathmandu 1 and Ganesh Parajuli from Kathmandu 7. Nepali Congress candidate Tek Bahadur Gurung is also nearing victory in Manang. The Nepali Communist Party's Pushpa Kamal Dahal is close to winning the Rukum East-1 constituency, defeating CPN-UML's Lilamani Gautam who is trailing by 3,000 votes.

So far, the Election Commission has declared that the RSP and the NC have won one seat each. Ranju Darshana of the RSP won from Kathmandu-1 with 15,455 votes, while Yogesh Gauchan Thakali of the NC won from Mustang with 3,307 votes.

According to an official, Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has so far received 5,924 votes and is ahead of his rivals in Rukum East.

Another RSP candidate Sulav Kharel is leading from the Rupandehi-2 constituency. He has secured 16,788 votes against CPN-UML Vice-chair Bishnu Paudel who is trailing with 3,517 votes. In Rolpa, Nationalist Communist Party candidate Barshaman Pun is leading with 265 votes, with CPN (Maoist) candidate Chudamani Oli in a close second with 259 votes, The Kathmandu Post reported.

RSP's Govinda Panthi also has taken an early lead in Gulmi-2 with 1,384 votes, ahead of Nepali Congress candidate Bhuwan Prasad Shrestha (1,325 votes) and CPN-UML's Gokarnaraj Bista (1,256 votes).

CPN-UML candidate Suhang Nembang is leading in Ilam-2 with 491 votes, whereas Sudip Rai of the Shram Sanskriti Party is trailing with 443 votes. RSP candidate Gokul Rai has only secured 171 votes, behind Nepali Congress candidate Bhesraj Acharya (210 votes).

RSP candidate Ashika Tamang is also leading in Dhading-1 with 4,375 votes. She is ahead of CPN-UML's Bhumi Prasad Tripathi who has secured 1,186 votes. RSP's Amresh Kumar Singh is also leading in Sarlahi-4 against Nepali Congress candidate Gagan Kumar Thapa.

The RSP, formed in 2022, had projected Shah as its prime minister candidate. The party received significant support during the campaign. On the other hand, the Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) were part of the government toppled by the Gen Z last year.

Nepali Congress president Gagan Thapa is the prime ministerial candidate of his party, whereas the CPN (UML) has projected Oli as its PM face.

According to the officials, election results are ⁠likely to be ⁠clear by Friday evening or Saturday.

Vote counting started late on Thursday night, according to the Election Commission.

Nepal witnessed about 60 per cent voter turnout during the elections to the House of Representatives on Thursday — the country's first polls since violent Gen Z protests that toppled the K P Sharma Oli-led coalition government last year.

(With input from agencies)