Rapper-turned-politician Balen Shah has secured a landslide victory over former prime minister KP Sharma Oli in the country's general election.
The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) that Mr Shah leads is also on course to win a commanding share of parliamentary seats.
The 35-year-old former Kathmandu mayor rose to prominence during last year’s youth-led uprising that forced the government to resign.
Mr Shah defeated former prime minister KP Sharma Oli in his home constituency. Final counts confirm Mr Shah secured 68,348 votes, more than triple the tally of Oli, who finished with 18,734.
The RSP’s lead is significant because it means a single party could govern on its own — ending decades of unstable coalition governments in the Himalayan nation.
Analysts say the result reflects deep frustration with decades of political instability, corruption and a lack of jobs for young people.
According to the current election result trends the party is heading toward a two-thirds majority.
Mr Shah, who did not make a speech, flashed a V-for-vctory sign but did not make a speech as he won more than three times the votes than four-time prime minister.
The high-stakes election on Thursday came six months after deadly protests toppled the government led by Mr Oli, with at least 77 people killed.
The September 2025 youth-led demonstrations, under a loose Gen Z banner, began over a brief social media ban but quickly tapped into broader grievances over corruption and a struggling economy.
Mr Oli congratulated Mr Balen on social media platform X later on Saturday, conceding defeat.
"Congratulations! Wish you a smooth and successful five-year tenure," Oli said.
Nationwide, Mr Shah's centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) was on track to win a majority in the 275-member House of Representatives, the lower house of parliament, according to early trends issued by the Election Commission, although counting still has far to go.
"This is heading to a landslide victory -- this reflects the frustration that has been building up," said political analyst Chandra Dev Bhatta.
"It is actually the people's revolt against the established political parties," he said.
"The people understand that the new do not really have strong agendas, but it is a punishment to the parties for their decades-long poor governance."
