🔗 Share this article

In a notable move ahead of next year's general election, two prominent figures in Nepali politics have joined forces. This alliance comes in the wake of widespread and fatal young people's demonstrations that rocked the country earlier this year and eventually led to the ouster of the sitting government.

A Commitment to Tackle Youth Demands

Media figure Rabi Lamichhane, who leads the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, a one-time rapper, have publicly pledged to focus on the grievances highlighted by the new generation. This promise follows the violent anti-graft protests that occurred in September, which resulted in significant loss of life.

"Agreement should not be as the leader seeks, it must be what the country needs," remarked Lamichhane after the agreement was finalized.

The late summer revolt was sparked by public frustration over a short-lived government ban on social media platforms. This incident acted as a catalyst for deeper resentment stemming from years of slow growth and longstanding accusations of systemic political corruption.

Terms of the Fresh Political Partnership

According to the formal pact, the roles for the imminent election have been defined. Rabi Lamichhane will remain as the leader 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 popular 51-year-old television personality, he founded the RSP in 2022, capturing broad discontent with the country's established political leadership. He has previously held the positions of deputy prime minister and interior minister. He was recently released on bail in a case related to 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 current political transition. He was instrumental in forming the interim government that came to power after the previous administration was dissolved.

Wider Political Discussions Underway

In a separate development, the current interim prime minister recently conducted consultations with a number of leading political leaders. These talks included ex- prime ministers and the presidents of other major parties, marking the first such gathering since the period of the protests.

Following these discussions, the prime minister took to social media to emphasize that conducting a free and fair election is a shared responsibility. The message affirmed the government's dedication to ensuring a safe and open atmosphere for the polls, adding that efforts are being made to remove any room for doubt.