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Nepal

Nepali rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah’s centrist party heads for landslide election win

Nepali rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, who is the leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), celebrating  his election victory and greeting supporters in Damak, Jhapa district in Nepal on March 7. REUTERS
Nepali rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, who is the leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), celebrating  his election victory and greeting supporters in Damak, Jhapa district in Nepal on March 7. REUTERS

Balendra Shah: Nepal’s rapper politician who took on the old guard and won

Mr Balendra Shah (left) is seen at a polling station as he votes during Nepal's parliamentary election in Kathmandu on March 5, 2026.
Mr Balendra Shah (left) is seen at a polling station as he votes during Nepal's parliamentary election in Kathmandu on March 5, 2026.

Inside the Nepal campaign that could vault Balendra Shah to power

Supporters of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) celebrate after election officials announce that Balendra Shah, a rapper-turned-politician and the prime ministerial candidate for RSP, is leading, outside a counting centre in Damak, Jhapa district, Nepal, March 7, 2026. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi
Supporters of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) celebrate after election officials announce that Balendra Shah, a rapper-turned-politician and the prime ministerial candidate for RSP, is leading, outside a counting centre in Damak, Jhapa district, Nepal, March 7, 2026. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

Rapper-turned-politician Shah unseats former Nepal PM in own constituency

Rastriya Swatantra Party election candidate Balendra Shah (left) casts his ballots as he votes at a polling station in Kathmandu on March 5.
Rastriya Swatantra Party election candidate Balendra Shah (left) casts his ballots as he votes at a polling station in Kathmandu on March 5.

Nepal’s early vote count puts ex-rapper’s party ahead in two-thirds of seats

Balendra Shah, a rapper-turned-politician and the prime ministerial candidate for Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), heads to cast his vote during the general election in Kathmandu, Nepal, March 5, 2026. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar
Balendra Shah, a rapper-turned-politician and the prime ministerial candidate for Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), heads to cast his vote during the general election in Kathmandu, Nepal, March 5, 2026. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

Who is contesting Nepal’s polls and what is at stake?

Former Prime Minister of Nepal K.P Sharma Oli was forced to resign after youth-led protests against corruption in 2025.
Former Prime Minister of Nepal K.P Sharma Oli was forced to resign after youth-led protests against corruption in 2025.

Nepal goes to the polls; voters seek change after youth-led protests

Balendra Shah, a rapper-turned-politician and the prime ministerial candidate for Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), smiles as he speaks with people at RSP office ahead of Nepal's general election, in Damak, Jhapa district, Nepal, February 25, 2026. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar
Balendra Shah, a rapper-turned-politician and the prime ministerial candidate for Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), smiles as he speaks with people at RSP office ahead of Nepal's general election, in Damak, Jhapa district, Nepal, February 25, 2026. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

Nepali women still sidelined in post-uprising polls

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) election candidate Ranju Darshana (C) meets residents during a door-to-door campaign with her party workers on Feb 13, ahead of Nepal's general election.
Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) election candidate Ranju Darshana (C) meets residents during a door-to-door campaign with her party workers on Feb 13, ahead of Nepal's general election.

Nepal to vote in first election since Gen Z-led protests toppled government

Members of the Nepali army patrol a street ahead of the House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5, 2026, following the deadly \"Gen Z\" led anti-graft protests in September that toppled the government, in Lalitpur, Nepal, February 9, 2026. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar
Members of the Nepali army patrol a street ahead of the House of Representatives elections scheduled for March 5, 2026, following the deadly \"Gen Z\" led anti-graft protests in September that toppled the government, in Lalitpur, Nepal, February 9, 2026. REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar

UK rapper Ghetts jailed for 12 years for killing Nepali student in hit-and-run

Ghetts (left) - real name Justin Clarke-Samuel - pleaded guilty in December 2025 to causing the death of 20-year-old Yubin Tamang.
Ghetts (left) - real name Justin Clarke-Samuel - pleaded guilty in December 2025 to causing the death of 20-year-old Yubin Tamang.

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MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.