Editorial photo #13381040 Politics

Projected As Next Nepal PM Balen Shah Launch Campaign In Kathmandu As Election Draws Close

Former Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane gestures as he takes part in the election campaign in Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 28, 2026. The rapper turned mayor on January 18 resigns from his post to contest the March 5 election. The former rapper who wins the local election of 2022 from the Nepali capital also assumes the charge of senior leader of the Rastriya Swantra Party (RSP) on the same day. Projected as the next Nepal Prime Minister, Balendra Shah (Balen) launches a Kathmandu-centric campaign as the election draws close, with polling set for March 5. Balen stands in the fray from Jhapa, standing against former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, and launches the campaign in Kathmandu with a road-show. Hundreds of supporters and voters stand on the side of the road as the projected Prime Minister, alongside the party president Rabi Lamichhane, greets voters from the moving vehicle. The silence period for the election of the House of Representatives, dissolved after September's Gen-Z protest, is set to start from March 2, past midnight. Balen campaigns all across the nation as his party, Rastriya Swatantra Party, is poised to win the election with a landslide victory. On December 28, Balen strikes a deal with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) where it is agreed that he will be the next Prime Ministerial candidate from the party. As per the 7-point agreement, RSP chair Rabi Lamichhane continues as the party's central chairman, while Shah will be presented as the party's parliamentary leader after the elections and its prime ministerial candidate. The RSP emerges as the fourth largest political force, winning 21 seats in the dissolved House of Representatives within a year of its establishment. Balen promises to institutionalize the agenda raised by September's Gen-Z movement. The electoral battle in Jhapa-5 shapes up to be an intriguing contest this time. (Photo by Subaas Shrest/NurPhoto)

Photo details

Photo ID: #13381040
Date taken: 28 February 2026
Location: —
Photographer: Subaas Shrestha/NurPhoto
Category: Politics

Related keywords

Rabi Lamichhane Deputy Prime Minister Home Minister election campaign Kathmandu House of Representatives February 28 2026 rapper mayor January 18 March 5 election local election 2022 Nepali capital senior leader Rastriya Swantra Party RSP Prime Minister Balendra Shah Balen Kathmandu centric campaign polling Jhapa KP Sharma Oli road-show supporters voters moving vehicle silence period Gen-Z protest landslide victory December 28 7-point agreement central chairman parliamentary leader fourth largest political force 21 seats dissolved House of Representatives institutionalizing agenda September’s Gen-Z movement electoral battle Jhapa-5 intriguing contest.