Tag: Balendra Shah

Nepal’s new government, old concerns: Governance, dissent, shrinking civic space

July 14, 2026 admin

As Nepal’s new government, led by Balendra Shah, a 35-year-old former Mayor of Kathmandu, completed its first 100 days in office, two incidents within 48 hours laid bare the widening gap between its promises of reform and the realities of governance. On July 9, a ride-hailing driver self-immolated following an altercation with the city police…

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Nepal’s Army in spotlight as new government takes assertive turn

May 3, 2026 admin

Nepali Army soldiers patrol on a street in Damak. Image used for representation purpose only. | Photo Credit: Reuters On April 24, Nepal marked its 20th Democracy Day. In a departure from tradition, no greeting message was issued by the newly elected Prime Minister Balendra Shah. Instead, a notice came from the Nepali Army. The…

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Nepal’s political shift opens a strategic window for India

March 24, 2026 admin

Balendra Shah, a rapper-turned-politician and the prime ministerial candidate for Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), greets his supporters as he celebrates after winning the election, in Damak, Jhapa district, Nepal, March 7, 2026. | Photo Credit: REUTERS The election results in Nepal have been described as a political earthquake. This is not an exaggeration. There has…

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Balendra Shah’s RSP party of wins majority: Nepal Election Commission

March 12, 2026 admin

RSP’s Balendra Shah himself defeated veteran four-time Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli — whose Marxist-led government was ousted in the violence last year — in his own seat. File | Photo Credit: PTI Nepal’s centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), the party of rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, won a majority in parliament with 182 seats, Election Commission…

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A supermajority for RSP leaves Nepal’s Parliament with weakest Opposition

March 11, 2026 admin

Nepal is set to have the weakest Opposition it has seen in recent history. The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) swept the March 5 elections, securing 182 seats in the 275-member Parliament, just two short of a two-thirds majority. Established parties such as the Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML, which have dominated Nepali politics since…

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Who is winning Nepal election: Balendra Shah’s RSP wins 18 seats, leads in 99

March 7, 2026 admin

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) prime ministerial candidate and former Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah while casting his vote in the Nepal general elections, in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, March 5, 2026. | Photo Credit: PTI Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah’s newly formed Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) was on Saturday (March 7, 2026) heading towards a sweeping victory in Nepal’s…

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Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah nominated as PM candidate

December 28, 2025 admin

Balendra Shah, currently serving as the mayor of Kathmandu, has been nominated as the prime ministerial candidate for Nepal. | Photo Credit: REUTERS Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah was on Sunday (December 28, 2025) nominated the prime ministerial candidate as he and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) inked a pact to jointly contest the March…

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