The explosion of public dissatisfaction with Nepal’s traditional political parties has manifested in a historic electoral victory for the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). The party’s performance in the March 5 election for the House of Representatives (HoR) marks one of the most dramatic political shifts in the country’s recent history. Yet the overwhelming mandate also comes with enormous responsibility. If the party fails to deliver on public expectations, the frustration and anger that propelled it to power could easily turn into disillusionment, pushing the country into a new cycle of instability. The scale of the RSP’s victory reflects a deeper sentiment among voters. For years, many citizens had grown weary of the power struggles, corruption scandals and patronage networks associated with traditional political parties. The election gave them an opportunity to express that dissatisfaction through the ballot box. By placing their trust in a relatively new political force, voters signalled their desire for a break from old political practices and a move toward cleaner, more accountable governance.
RSP hatching strategy to end Balen’s politics from Jhapa: UML J...
Nepal has seen overwhelming electoral victories before. In the 1959 parliamentary election, the Nepali Congress (NC) secured a two-thirds majority in parliament. At that time, the result was widely seen as a natural outcome of the party’s leadership in the anti-Rana democratic movement. The political landscape today, however, is very different. The RSP, a party that emerged only recently, has managed to defeat several well-established political forces with deep organisational roots and decades of political experience. This outcome is both surprising and significant, warranting careful reflection on what it reveals about changing public attitudes toward politics in Nepal. A central factor behind the RSP’s success was its decision to nominate former Kathmandu mayor Balen Shah as its prime ministerial candidate. Balen’s popularity, particularly among young voters and urban constituencies, generated a remarkable wave of support to the RSP during the election campaign. His image as an independent-minded leader committed to transparency, accountability and efficient governance resonated strongly with voters who had grown tired of traditional political figures. The party’s ability to translate Balen’s popularity into votes was a key factor in its electoral success. Many voters did not simply cast their ballots for the RSP as a party; they did so because they believed in the leadership and promise represented by Balen. The enthusiasm surrounding his candidacy also drew energy from broader youth-driven political activism, including the rise of Gen-Z political engagement in recent years. The message from the electorate was clear: they want a leadership that is accountable, transparent and focused on delivering tangible improvements in governance and public service.
However, early signs of internal differences within the RSP over the question of leadership could threaten to undermine this historic mandate. Reports suggest that some party leaders close to party chairman Rabi Lamichhane have raised questions about whether Balen should indeed become the country’s next prime minister. Such debates may be natural within a political party, but they must be handled with great care. The RSP leadership must recognise that much of the public support the party received was closely tied to Balen’s candidacy. If the party were to retreat from its pre-election commitment and deny Balen the opportunity to lead the government, it would risk eroding the trust that voters have placed in it. Such a move would not only damage the party’s credibility but could also deepen public cynicism toward politics. The RSP’s historic victory offers a rare opportunity to reset Nepal’s political trajectory. Whether that opportunity is realised will depend largely on the party’s ability to remain united, respect the mandate it received from voters and allow the leadership it presented to the public—Balen—to guide the country through the next five years.
