The Nepal Elections 2026 have triggered a dramatic political shift in the Himalayan nation, with rapper-turned-politician Balen Shah and his Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) moving closer to securing a historic two-thirds majority in parliament.
As vote counting continues, early results suggest the RSP is dominating the electoral landscape, leaving traditional political parties far behind. The outcome could reshape Nepal’s political future and potentially pave the way for Shah to become the country’s next prime minister.
Historic Political Shift in Nepal
The Nepal Elections 2026 appear to be marking a rare moment in the country’s political history. Nepal’s complex two-tier electoral system usually prevents any single party from gaining overwhelming control of parliament.
However, preliminary figures indicate that the Rastriya Swatantra Party has already secured around 124–125 seats out of 165 under the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system.
In comparison, other major parties are far behind:
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Nepali Congress: 17 seats
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CPN-UML: 8 seats
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Nepali Communist Party: 7 seats
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Other parties combined: 5 seats
Political analysts say this outcome signals growing public frustration with traditional political leadership and a desire for new faces in governance.
Balen Shah Defeats Former PM KP Sharma Oli
One of the most significant moments of the Nepal Elections 2026 came when Balen Shah, 35, defeated former prime minister KP Sharma Oli in Jhapa-5, a constituency long considered Oli’s political stronghold.
The victory is being described by observers as symbolic of a generational shift in Nepal’s politics.
Shah first gained nationwide attention as the mayor of Kathmandu and later emerged as a prominent reform-focused political leader. His campaign focused on governance reforms, anti-corruption measures, and youth participation in politics.
With his party now dominating the vote count, Shah is widely expected to emerge as Nepal’s next prime minister if the final results confirm the trend.
Counting Still Underway
Despite the strong showing by RSP, the Nepal Elections 2026 counting process is still ongoing.
According to the Election Commission:
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Results for 164 of the 165 FPTP seats have been declared.
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Counting of votes under the Proportional Representation (PR) system is still in progress.
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Over 10.3 million PR votes have already been counted.
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Around 500,000 to 600,000 votes are yet to be tallied.
Election Commission information officer Suman Ghimire said the vote counting is likely to conclude by Tuesday evening, though the final official results may take up to four days to be formally announced.
International Reactions Begin
The developments in the Nepal Elections 2026 have already drawn attention from global leaders.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Balen Shah and RSP leaders after early results showed the party heading toward a major victory. Modi reportedly held a “warm telephone conversation” with Shah and RSP chairman Rabi Lamichhane to extend his congratulations.
Experts say the election outcome could influence regional diplomatic relations and economic cooperation in South Asia.
What Lies Ahead for Nepal
If the Rastriya Swatantra Party ultimately secures a two-thirds majority, it would give the government significant legislative power, enabling major constitutional or policy reforms.
For former PM KP Sharma Oli and his party CPN-UML, the defeat has triggered calls for internal reform. Party leaders have already hinted at possible reorganisation and leadership changes following what they described as a “serious setback.”
As the Nepal Elections 2026 counting nears completion, all eyes are now on whether Balen Shah’s party will officially cross the two-thirds threshold and usher in a new political era in Nepal.
