Editorial photo #13380861 Politics
Balen And Rabi Launch Joint RSP Campaign Across Kathmandu Valley Ahead Of March 5
In Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 28, 2026, former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, known as Balen, and former television host and Deputy Prime Minister Rabi Lamichhane wave to supporters as they launch a joint election campaign across the Kathmandu Valley. Shah, who recently joins the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), is declared the party's prime ministerial candidate under a seven-point internal agreement, while Lamichhane continues as party chair. The campaign comes ahead of the March 5 parliamentary elections, with Shah set to contest from Jhapa-5 constituency in a high-profile race against CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli. The RSP, which emerges as the fourth-largest political force with 21 seats in the dissolved House of Representatives within a year of its formation, seeks to expand its influence nationwide. (Photo by Sanjit Pariyar/NurPhoto)
