Nepal Election 2026: Balendra Shah Party Nears Supermajority

Published: March 10, 2026
The English Chronicle Desk
The English Chronicle Online

Vote counting in Nepal’s 2026 general election continued into its final stages on Tuesday, with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP)—led by rapper‑turned‑politician Balendra Shah—closing in on a historic parliamentary supermajority. The dramatic results mark a potential seismic shift in Nepal’s political landscape as ballots are tallied across constituencies in the Himalayan nation.

Championship results from the first‑past‑the‑post count show the RSP winning an overwhelming number of seats. As of the latest figures, the party has clinched 125 out of 165 constituencies under this system, far surpassing the tallies of traditional rivals and placing it on course to secure roughly two‑thirds of the seats in the 275‑member House of Representatives once proportional representation results are finalised. No party has achieved such dominance since Nepal adopted its current parliamentary structure in the early 1990s.

The RSP’s commanding performance reflects widespread voter dissatisfaction with established parties and a strong appetite for generational change. Balendra Shah, 35, won his own seat in the strategic Jhapa‑5 constituency by defeating former prime minister KP Sharma Oli by a historic margin, securing 68,348 votes to Oli’s 18,734—a margin of nearly 50,000 votes. Shah’s triumph in a high‑profile contest further bolsters his standing as leader of the largest political force emerging from the election.

Supporters celebrated the outcome at counting centres and in the streets of Kathmandu and other major cities as results came in. The RSP’s success has been particularly pronounced among urban and young voters, many of whom were active in the 2025 youth‑led protests that helped propel Shah onto the national stage by highlighting issues such as corruption, job creation, healthcare and education reforms.

As proportional representation ballots are still being counted, analysts say the RSP is likely to top overall vote share figures, which would add to its seat total. If the current trend holds, the party could command a near supermajority—around 184 seats—in the full House, enabling it to govern independently without coalition partners.

Political commentators note that this result marks a dramatic departure from decades of coalition rule in Nepal, where traditional parties such as the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party factions have alternated in power. The RSP’s ascendancy underscores a broader shift in voter sentiment toward newcomers promising accountability and change.

With the counting process nearing completion, attention has now turned to the formal formation of government. Shah’s party is expected to nominate its parliamentary leader shortly, paving the way for his appointment as prime minister once the new House convenes. The transition comes amid heightened expectations for reform and political stability after years of frequent government changes.

International reactions are beginning to emerge. Leaders from neighbouring countries have extended congratulatory messages to Shah and RSP leadership, signalling an interest in maintaining strong bilateral ties and cooperation in the region.

For now, Nepal watches closely as the final tally unfolds. The possible emergence of a single‑party supermajority under Balendra Shah represents a landmark moment in the nation’s political history and could herald a new era of governance in South Asia.

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