Nepal TV Host Rabi Lamichhane and Ex-Rapper Mayor Balendra Shah Form Alliance for Upcoming Election Following Youth Protests
Rabi Lamichhane, a TV host and chair of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has formed an alliance with Balendra Shah, the Kathmandu mayor and former rapper known as Balen, ahead of the upcoming election scheduled for 5 March.
Lamichhane will retain his role as party chair, while Shah will stand as the prime ministerial candidate in the election.
The alliance comes after deadly youth-led protests on September 8-9 that resulted in the ousting of the government and at least 77 deaths. These protests were sparked by a brief government ban on social media amid growing concerns about corruption and political stagnation.
Lamichhane founded the RSP in 2022 to channel discontent against Nepal's long-standing elderly leadership. He has previously served as deputy prime minister and interior minister, and was recently released on bail concerning allegations involving cooperative fraud and organised crime.
Shah, aged 35, has become a popular figure in Nepal’s political transition and played a significant role in forming the interim government following the removal of former Prime Minister Oli’s administration.
The interim government, led by Sushila Karki, held consultations with political leaders, including Oli, Deuba, and Dahal after the uprising. Karki emphasized that the upcoming election is a shared responsibility and pledged that the government is committed to creating a free and fear-free environment for the electoral process.
The newly formed alliance aims to address the demands of Nepal's younger generation that fueled the recent protests, seeking political change and reform.
