Nepal PM Balendra Shah sworn in after RSP landslide

Balendra Shah, a rapper-turned-politician and former mayor of Kathmandu, was sworn in as Nepal’s prime minister on Friday, March 27, after his party won a decisive mandate in the country’s March 5 general election.

The result reshapes a political landscape that has cycled through 14 prime ministers in the 18 years since Nepal ended its monarchy, underscoring voter appetite for a different governing formula.

Election result and parliamentary math

Shah’s Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), founded four years ago, captured 125 of the 165 seats elected under the first-past-the-post system.

Seats chosen through proportional representation were still being distributed at the time of the swearing-in. Projections cited in the available information suggest the RSP could reach a two-thirds majority in the 275-member parliament, but that outcome was not yet confirmed.

What changed in Nepal’s political balance

A notable feature of the election was Shah’s defeat of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in a constituency described as a long-standing stronghold, signaling a shift in voter alignment in at least one key battleground.

The scale of the RSP’s first-past-the-post win, combined with the possibility of a supermajority once proportional seats are finalized, positions the new administration to shape legislation and oversight more decisively than many recent governments.

Immediate agenda: Karki Commission and governance demands

The incoming government faces early pressure to act on the findings of the Karki Commission, which examined violence and property destruction linked to the 2025 Gen Z movement.

Public expectations are also high for action on corruption, weak administration, and accountability. The source material does not specify policy proposals, timelines, or cabinet appointments, leaving uncertainty about how quickly the government can translate electoral momentum into concrete reforms.

Internal scrutiny and leadership dynamics

Attention is also expected to focus on Shah’s working relationship with RSP founder Rabi Lamichhane. Lamichhane faces allegations of fraud and illegal passport possession, and analysts cited in the source note that internal party dynamics could affect governance.

Those allegations are not adjudicated in the provided information, and no legal outcomes are described. Still, the issue introduces a potential political risk for a government seeking to meet heightened demands for integrity and institutional accountability.