🔗 Share this article

In a significant move ahead of next year's national polls, two prominent personalities in Nepali politics have teamed up. This alliance emerges in the aftermath of large-scale and fatal young people's demonstrations that rocked the country earlier this year and ultimately led to the ouster of the incumbent government.

A Commitment to Tackle Youth Concerns

Television host Rabi Lamichhane, who heads the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, a one-time rapper, have publicly pledged to prioritize the issues highlighted by the new generation. This commitment follows the turbulent anti-corruption protests that occurred in September, which led to considerable loss of life.

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

The late summer revolt was triggered by public frustration over a short-lived government ban on social media platforms. This incident acted as a catalyst for underlying discontent stemming from years of slow growth and longstanding allegations of systemic graft in politics.

Terms of the Fresh Political Agreement

According to the official pact, the positions for the imminent election have been clarified. 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 set for 5 March.

• Rabi Lamichhane: A popular fifty-one-year-old television personality, he founded the RSP in 2022, capturing broad discontent with the nation's older political class. He has previously served in the positions of deputy prime minister and interior minister. He was not long ago freed 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 central player in Nepal's ongoing political shift. He played a role in forming the interim government that took over after the previous administration was dissolved.

Wider Government Discussions Underway

In a related development, the sitting interim prime minister recently conducted meetings with a number of major political figures. These discussions involved ex- prime ministers and the presidents of other major parties, marking the first such gathering since the period of the protests.

Following these meetings, the prime minister took to social media to emphasize that conducting a credible election is a collective duty. The statement reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring a safe and fear-free environment for the electoral process, adding that efforts are being made to remove any room for doubt.