🔗 Share this article

In a significant move ahead of the upcoming national polls, a pair of high-profile personalities in Nepali politics have joined forces. This coalition emerges in the wake of large-scale and fatal youth-led protests that shook the country earlier this year and ultimately resulted in the ouster of the sitting government.

A Commitment to Tackle Young People's Concerns

Media figure Rabi Lamichhane, who leads the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, a one-time rapper, have publicly vowed to focus on the grievances highlighted by the new generation. This promise comes after the violent anti-corruption unrest that occurred in September, which led to considerable casualties.

"Consensus must not be as the leader seeks, it must be what the country needs," stated Lamichhane after the deal was finalized.

The September uprising was triggered by public frustration over a short-lived government ban on social media platforms. This incident acted as a spark for deeper resentment stemming from a long period of economic stagnation and longstanding accusations of deep-rooted political corruption.

Terms of the Fresh Political Agreement

According to the official pact, the positions for the imminent election have been defined. Rabi Lamichhane will continue to serve as the chairperson of the RSP. In turn, Balendra Shah will be the party's nominee for the position of prime minister in the election scheduled for 5 March.

• Rabi Lamichhane: A well-known fifty-one-year-old television personality, he established the RSP in 2022, capturing broad public dissatisfaction with the nation's established political leadership. He has in the past served in the posts of deputy prime minister and interior minister. He was not long ago freed on bail in a case involving alleged cooperative fraud and organized crime.
• Balendra Shah (Balen): The 35-year-old mayor of Kathmandu is viewed as a key player in Nepal's ongoing political shift. He played a role in setting up the interim government that came to power after the ousted administration was dissolved.

Broader Political Consultations Underway

In a related development, the current interim prime minister recently held meetings with a number of leading political leaders. These talks involved ex- prime ministers and the heads of rival major parties, marking the first such gathering since the period of the uprising.

After these meetings, the prime minister took to social media to emphasize that holding a free and fair election is a shared responsibility. The message reiterated the government's commitment to guaranteeing a secure and open environment for the electoral process, adding that efforts are being made to eliminate any room for doubt.