Nepal's 2026 Election Sees RSP's Landslide Victory and Generational Political Shift

Nepal's March 2026 general elections marked a significant generational and political shift following the 2025 Gen Z-led protests that ousted former PM KP Sharma Oli. The newly prominent Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by ex-mayor and rapper Balen Shah, secured a landslide victory, signaling public disillusionment with traditional parties like Nepali Congress and CPN-UML. The RSP's 'Nepal First' agenda emphasizes strategic autonomy, economic reform, and renegotiation of treaties, challenging established India-Nepal relations and regional dynamics. Observers note contrasting leadership styles between disruptors like Shah and reformists like Gagan Thapa amid ongoing economic and geopolitical challenges.