Nepal Election: RSP dominates, Balen signals PM bid
Nepal’s parliamentary election of 2026 has produced a dramatic shift in the country’s political landscape, with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) emerging as the largest political force in the House of Representatives. Preliminary results indicate that the relatively new party has secured a commanding lead, reflecting growing public support for alternative political leadership and reform-oriented governance.
The election was held approximately six months after the widely discussed Gen-Z political movement that demanded accountability, transparency, and a generational shift in Nepal’s political leadership.
The polls were organized by the interim government led by Prime Minister Sushila Karki, and officials say the election was conducted peacefully across all 77 districts of the Himalayan nation.
According to the acting Chief Election Commissioner Ramprasad Bhandari, voters cast ballots for 165 first-past-the-post seats in the House of Representatives. In addition, 110 seats will be allocated through the proportional representation system based on the total number of votes received by political parties nationwide.
Early vote counts show the Rastriya Swatantra Party leading or winning in 125 constituencies, positioning it as the dominant force in the new parliament.
Traditional parties that have long dominated Nepal’s political arena have seen a significant decline in their electoral strength.
The Nepali Congress, historically one of Nepal’s largest parties, has secured around 17-18 seats, while the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) has won approximately 9-10 seats.
Meanwhile, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) has gained 7-8 seats. Smaller parties and independent candidates have captured only a handful of constituencies, including three seats won by a newly formed political group using the “Mato” (soil) election symbol. The Rastriya Prajatantra Party and one independent candidate have each secured a single seat.
In the proportional vote count, the RSP is also leading by a large margin, with more than 5.1 million votes, accounting for roughly 47.8 percent of the total votes counted so far. By comparison, Nepali Congress has received about 1.75 million votes (16.27 percent), while the UML has obtained around 1.45 million votes (13.46 percent). The Maoist Centre has secured approximately 809,000 votes (7.5 percent).
The strong performance of the RSP is widely interpreted as a reflection of voter frustration with traditional political parties and a desire for new leadership.
Analysts say younger voters played a significant role in shaping the election outcome, particularly in urban areas and among first-time voters.
Following the announcement of early results, Balen Shah, the current mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, signaled that he may seek the post of prime minister with the backing of the RSP.
Shah, a popular independent-turned-reformist figure, gained national recognition after winning the Kathmandu mayoral election and promoting transparency and urban reforms.
International observers from several countries and organizations monitored the election process. Delegations from Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, Japan, Indonesia, and Bhutan, along with representatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), praised the election as peaceful, orderly, and transparent.
Observers noted that the election could mark a historic turning point for Nepal, signaling the rise of younger political leadership and a shift away from decades of dominance by traditional parties.
The Election Commission has stated that the final results, including the allocation of proportional representation seats, will be officially announced in the coming days. Once the final results are declared, the process of forming a new government is expected to begin in parliament.
