The newly formed Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by former rapper Balendra Shah, was leading in the early counting of votes on Friday (March 6) in Nepal's first general elections since the violent Gen Z protests led to the downfall of the KP Sharma Oli-led coalition government.
The RSP has won three seats and is leading in another 45 of the 57 constituencies where counting was going on till 10 am, according to party sources. The Nepali Communist Party led by former premier Pushpakamal Dahal "Prachanda" is leading in two seats and pro-monarchist Rastriya Prajantrantra Party is ahead on one seat. The RSP has won three seats, Kathmandu 1, Kathmandu 7 and Kathmandu 8, according to party sources. However, the Election Commission is yet to officially announce the result.
Nepal witnessed about 60 per cent voter turnout during the elections to the House of Representatives on Thursday, the country's first polls since violent Gen Z protests that toppled the KP Sharma Oli-led coalition government last year.
The RSP, led by rapper-turned-politician and former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, is leading in all 10 constituencies of Kathmandu, according to media reports. Shah, 35, popularly known as Balen, drew large crowds, particularly young voters, during campaign rallies. He is currently leading against Oli, 74, in the Jhapa constituency, the veteran leader's political stronghold.
Balen joined the RSP, led by former television host-turned-politician Rabi Lamichhane, in December, about two months after youth-led protests erupted across the Himalayan nation over allegations of widespread corruption. He emerged as a prominent face among the young protesters during the demonstrations in September.
Meanwhile, KP Sharma Oli's Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML) and the Nepali Congress led by Gagan Thapa are each ahead in three seats. Former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who heads the Nepali Communist Party, is also leading in the Rukum East constituency.
Around 60 per cent of Nepal's 19 million eligible voters cast their ballots in Thursday's elections to the House of Representatives.
As a close neighbour, India is closely monitoring the election outcome in Nepal. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal recently said India has "consistently supported peace, progress and stability in Nepal".
"We look forward to working with the new government of Nepal to further build on the robust, multifaceted ties between our two countries and peoples for mutual benefit," he said.
(With agency inputs)