Vote counting continues in Nepal following Thursday’s general election, with former rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah emerging as the early frontrunner. Shah, who served as Kathmandu’s mayor until January, is leading by a wide margin, positioning him as a potential next prime minister. His centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is ahead in more than two-thirds of the 165 directly elected seats, according to BBC Nepali. The Nepali Congress trails in second place, while the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) stands third. Final results may take several days due to Nepal’s slow counting process and the logistical challenges of collecting ballots from remote areas.
Shah, 35, trained as a civil engineer and was active in Nepal’s hip-hop scene before entering politics. His popularity surged during last year’s protests over social media restrictions, corruption, and unemployment, which led to the resignation of then-leader KP Sharma Oli. Shah’s tough stance as mayor drew both support and criticism, particularly from human rights groups. He is contesting from Jhapa-5, Oli’s traditional stronghold, and is currently leading there as well.
Analysts view this election as a generational shift, with many young voters seeking new leadership after decades of unstable coalition governments.
আমার দেশ অনলাইন প্রকাশ : ০৭ মার্চ ২০২৬, ১৫: ৪২আপডেট : ০৭ মার্চ ২০২৬, ১৫: ৫৫ নেপালের নির্বাচনের পর ভোট গণনা এখনো চলছে, তবে র্যাপার থেকে রাজনীতিতে আসা বালেন্দ্র শাহ নেপালের সাধারণ নির্বাচনে শুরুতেই বেশ ভালো ব্যবধানে এগিয়ে আছেন, যা তাকে দেশের পরবর্তী
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