Having won 125 of the 165 seats under the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system and comfortably crossing the required three per cent threshold of valid votes under the proportional representation system.
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Having won 125 of the 165 seats under the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system and comfortably crossing the required three per cent threshold of valid votes under the proportional representation system (securing 5,103,923 votes out of a total of 17,039,115) to qualify for seats in the House of Representatives, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is poised to form a majority government in Nepal. This is on expected lines. The crucial general election was held after the K P Sharma Oli government was toppled in September last year following a massive wave of violent protests spearheaded by youth-led Gen Z. The Nepal uprising was the result of grievances triggered by rampant corruption, acute wealth disparity, an employment crisis, and suppression of dissent by those in power amid growing frustration with the old guard. Unlike movements that lose sheen over time, the youths of the Himalayan country were determined to assert their position by electing a more responsible government, which was evident from their aggressive campaigning for the RSP, the party they had projected as a youth-centric force. The result? They succeeded in translating the movement into a massive victory, unlike electoral outcomes in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, two countries that also experienced political upheaval in the recent past.
In Nepal, old political parties, such as the Nepali Congress (NC) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), which had dominated the country's political arena for decades, faltered in the recent elections, with many of their top leaders suffering defeats. The election marked the collapse of Nepal's traditional political order and the emergence of the RSP as a major political force following its stellar performance. By giving a resounding mandate to the RSP led by rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, the people of Nepal, particularly the Gen Z voters, have sent a strong message that indifference, false promises, and disregard for public grievances won't be tolerated anymore. This dramatic political shift is also a reminder to political parties and leaders that the true power rests with the people. As the saying goes, "With great power comes great responsibility," the RSP has its task cut out for itself. The new government will be tasked with guiding the country out of poverty and tackling the challenges that led to the September 2025 uprising. To achieve positive change and economic transformation, good governance, transparency, and accountability are essential. As a country with close ties to Nepal, India can play a significant role in its journey towards economic recovery through enhanced economic cooperation.