Vote counting is underway in Nepal after the country held its first general election since youth-led protests last year forced the resignation of the government and dissolved parliament. The election is widely seen as a turning point that could reshape the nation’s political direction.
More than 18.9 million voters participated in the poll to elect members of the 275-seat House of Representatives, with 165 seats filled through direct elections and 110 through proportional representation.
Early results show a strong surge for Balendra Shah, a former rapper and the ex-mayor of Kathmandu. His party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has emerged as the early frontrunner and is leading in dozens of constituencies, far ahead of traditional parties. In some early counts, the party was reported leading in more than 60 seats, while rivals such as the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) trailed significantly.
Shah himself is also leading by a wide margin in the Jhapa-5 constituency against former prime minister K. P. Sharma Oli, reflecting the strong momentum of reform-minded candidates.
The election reflects a major generational shift in Nepal, driven largely by young voters frustrated with corruption and political stagnation.
For Nepal’s small but growing Christian minority, the outcome could be significant. Christians have raised concerns about anti-conversion laws and restrictions on evangelism in recent years, meaning the policies of the next government could influence the future of religious freedom in the predominantly Hindu nation.