Ex-Rapper Balendra Shah’s party takes early lead in Nepal elections

Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah’s newly founded Rastriya Swatantra Party is leading in early vote counts of Nepal’s general election, signaling a major shake-up in the country’s political landscape, reports CNN.

Early trends released by the Election Commission on Friday show Shah’s centrist party ahead in 37 constituencies. In contrast, former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal (UML) is leading in only three seats, while the Nepali Congress, led by veteran politician Gagan Thapa, has a lead in five seats.

Shah, 35, who previously served as mayor of Kathmandu, has become a prominent figure in Nepalese politics by appealing to younger voters eager for change. His campaign has drawn large crowds across the country, and his messaging on social media resonated with a generation frustrated by corruption, unemployment, and political stagnation.

Out of Nepal’s 275 lower house seats, counting is underway for 165 directly elected constituencies, with the remaining 110 to be determined through proportional representation. Officials expect a clearer picture of the results by Friday evening or Saturday.

Nepal, a nation of 30 million people strategically located between China and India, has experienced decades of political instability. Last September, widespread street protests triggered by a social media ban culminated in violent clashes, leaving several dead and forcing the resignation of Oli.

Shah’s strong early showing underscores a potential generational and ideological shift in Nepalese politics, challenging established parties and promising a new direction for the nation.