Two of Nepal’s most popular political leaders have formed an alliance ahead of next year’s election in the wake of deadly youth-led protests earlier in the year that ousted the government.
Kathmandu mayor Balendra “Balen” Shah has joined the party of former TV host Rabi Lamichhane in an alliance ahead of Nepal’s 5 March parliamentary election.
Under the agreement, Shah will be the party’s primeministerial candidate if the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) wins the election, while Lamichhane will remain party chairperson. Lamichhane said the alliance was based on what the country needed. “Consensus should not be what a leader wants. It should be what the country needs,” he said in a statement.
Link to youth-led protests
The alliance follows September’s youth-led protests against corruption, in which 77 people were killed and which led to the resignation of former prime minister KP Sharma Oli. Both leaders have said they want to address the concerns raised during those demonstrations.
Political analyst Bipin Adhikari said the move strengthens the RSP’s support among young voters.
“It is a strategic step to bring Balen and his young supporters into the party,” he said.
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The election commission says about 19 million people are eligible to vote, including around one million new voters, mostly young people registered after the protests.
Who is Rabi Lamichhane?
Rabi Lamichhane, 48, is a former television presenter-turned politician and the leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, which he founded in 2022. He earlier served as deputy prime minister and home minister.
Lamichhane became popular through his anti-corruption reporting on television. He is currently out on bail in a case linked to alleged misuse of funds collected from cooperative members.
Who is Balendra “Balen” Shah?
Balen Shah, 35, is the mayor of Kathmandu and a former rapper and engineer who entered politics as an independent figure.
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He gained wider attention during and after the September protests and later helped shape the interim government led by former chief justice Sushila Karki, which is overseeing preparations for the election.
Some critics have questioned his visibility during the protests, saying he mostly addressed supporters on social media rather than appearing in public.
The alliance is seen as a challenge to long-established parties such as Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) and the Nepali Congress, which have shared power for much of the past three decades.
However, Nepali Congress spokesperson Prakash Sharan Mahat said the alliance may not change voting patterns. “Both Balen and Lamichhane are controversial leaders. I do not think their alliance will cause major change. People will still choose experienced parties,” he told Reuters.
