Damak, Jhapa — Balendra Shah — the 35-year-old rapper everyone calls Balen — flashed a huge smile and victory sign on Saturday. Election officials declared him the clear winner over 74-year-old KP Sharma Oli right in Oli’s Jhapa-5 seat. Balen pulled in more than three times as many votes as the four-time former prime minister.
That evening Balen toured the streets in an open car. He wore his usual dark sunglasses, waved from the sunroof, and soaked up chants of “Balen” from huge crowds. He kept quiet — no speech — but the result said everything.
This defeat ranks as one of the biggest shocks Nepal has seen in years. Balen moves from Kathmandu’s first independent mayor in 2022 straight toward a real chance at prime minister. His Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) heads toward a national sweep.
Anger from Last Year’s Deadly Protests Fuels the Win
Thursday’s vote came six months after massive youth protests forced Oli’s government out. Gen Z crowds started with anger over a short social media ban. The demonstrations quickly grew into fury about corruption and a failing economy. At least 77 people lost their lives. Oli’s own house in Jhapa still sits burnt and ruined from the unrest — just like many other buildings.
Balen built on that rage. He used his old music fame and strong online following to reach young voters. A 22-year-old student in Jhapa told reporters Balen acts like “a performer” who lifts everyone up. “I knew he would win, but the huge gap surprised me,” the student said. “People felt fed up with the old leaders.”
Early Numbers Show RSP Crushing It
By Saturday night the Election Commission announced 76 winners. RSP claimed 61 seats. Nepali Congress picked up nine. Oli’s Communist Party managed only three. Pushpa Kamal Dahal took one for his group.
Trends put RSP ahead in most of the leftover 89 direct seats. In the proportional list vote for 110 more seats RSP already held well over half the counted ballots.
Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said counting runs smoothly everywhere — from high mountains to hot border plains. Full results, especially the proportional part, will probably take a full week.
Analysts Call It a True People’s Revolt
Experts see this as payback time. “Frustration has built for years,” Chandra Dev Bhatta explained. “Voters punish old parties for decades of weak rule.” Kunda Dixit from Nepali Times called the result bigger than anyone predicted. He pointed to public anger over bad performance and the violence last September.
Even Nepali Congress’s new leader Gagan Thapa trails in his own race.
A 74-year-old woman who saw Oli’s house go up in flames said she stays cautious but hopeful. “Maoists promised change when they came — almost nothing happened,” she said. “This time I will hold on to a little hope.”
Balen’s breakthrough shows Nepal craves new voices. RSP could run the next government with room to spare.
