In Nepal, a mandate to deliver

THE democratic transition in Nepal bodes well for the country and for India-Nepal relations. Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel, President Ram Chandra Paudel and caretaker Prime Minister and former Chief Justice Sushila Karki were the key players. Notably, Sushila Karki's leadership ensured that the election was free, fair and uncontroversial. India supported this process.

This is Nepal's first election in recent memory to present a prime-ministerial candidate. It was not just a victory for the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). It also served as a referendum on the charismatic Balendra Shah, former Kathmandu mayor, hip-hop rapper, structural engineer and MTech graduate from Visvesvaraya Technological University in Belgaum, Karnataka. He is an icon to Nepal's youth.

No past Nepali leader has commanded such popularity — not even those who fought for democracy and revolution. As Prime Minister, the 35-year-old Balendra Shah will be the world's youngest current PM. With this change, the old guard is out. Nepal's new Pratinidhi Sabha will be dominated by young representatives, averaging 43-45 years old. As a result, Nepali politics will change.

This generational renewal is strengthened by Nepal's new constitution, validated by these elections. The electoral system establishes a 275-member parliament, divided between 165 first-past-the-post (FPTP) seats and 110 party-list proportional representation seats. It was believed this setup would prevent majorities. But the RSP defied expectations, securing a large majority, falling just two seats short of the two-thirds majority.

The election results focussed on internal issues rather than external ones, unlike in the past. Voters rejected bad governance, corruption, impunity, nepotism, VIP culture and wealthy leaders in a poor country, and instead, favoured accountability.

The path to the RSP's electoral victory was paved by the Gen Z uprising. While Balendra Shah's premiership bid galvanised RSP support, the voter turnout — just under 60% — was lower than any Nepalese election since 1991.

Since 2015, Nepal's premiership has rotated nine times among three major parties: the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (UML), the Nepali Congress (NC) and the Maoist Centre. Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli of the UML served as Prime Minister four times.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) of the Maoist Centre and Sher Bahadur Deuba of the NC served twice each. The NC's Sushil Koirala, since deceased, served once. The musical chairs game never had any ideological or programmatic beat. Sheer opportunism determined alliances.

The present verdict decimated the UML, the NC and the Communist Party of Nepal, which includes the Maoist Centre. The vote share for communist parties dropped from about 40% in recent elections to 21%. Furthermore, the decline in seats was even steeper. Only Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) secured a win, as he was aided by the RSP's subterranean support.

The NC's struggles underscore these shifts. Its President Gagan Thapa suffered a rare defeat — something that has happened only once before, in 1991, when KP Bhattarai lost. Besides Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli of the UML, the other prominent leaders who lost are Janata Samajbadi Party's Upendra Yadav, Janamat Party's Chandra Kant Raut and NC's Shekhar Koirala, who even forfeited his deposit.

The RSP's victory was overwhelming: 125 seats under the FPTP alone. In proportional voting, it won more votes than the next three national parties combined. It has taught a lesson to the once-dominant parties, still clinging to aging leaders and outmoded ideas.

One reason for this sweeping transformation was the mobilisation on social media, which drove the RSP's success. Another was the sentiment among the Nepalese diaspora, which influenced their relatives' voting in Nepal.

Balendra Shah is among the first to unite Nepal's pahad and terai. He is not a polarising regional or ethnic figure. His Maithili-speaking, Madhesi background has not hurt him — on the contrary, it has helped. The RSP swept the terai, winning 31 of 32 seats.

As the Mayor of Kathmandu, he maintained a clean image. His direct and action-driven style set him apart. Voters have high expectations, having given him a mandate for radical, transformational change. A lack of results could quickly lead to frustration.

Given this mandate, Shah's immediate priority will be to maintain a spotless government and rebuild Nepal. In line with this transition, his first steps are clear: address corruption and restore the many government structures damaged or destroyed during the September 2025 uprising.

Many of the RSP's elected representatives are well-educated. Some have PhD degrees. Leaders like Balendra Shah, Swarnim Wagle and others have their task cut out for them. The expected 18-member governing team is being cast to be clean, competent and talented. They must reform a rigid system weighed down by slow, traditional processes.

To achieve their goals, RSP Chairman Rabi Lamichhane and PM-designate Balendra Shah must forge a productive working relationship. This will require careful and dexterous bridging.

Balendra Shah will pursue a development-focussed, non-aligned, pro-Nepal policy. Such a policy would help further the projects that India and Nepal have jointly conceived and take into account the historic and ongoing equities between Nepal and India.

The RSP's ambitious agenda includes a seven per cent GDP growth target. It aims to raise nominal GDP from $45.5 to $100 billion over five years. Its goals include encouraging business and industry, easing regulation, freeing entrepreneurship, promoting investment and creating jobs. The RSP also seeks to drive development and achieve 30,000 MW of hydropower over the next decade.

In this spirit of renewal, Nepal's new government will be intent on delivering on its agenda. Against this backdrop, India can be a valuable partner. In addition to hydropower, both countries can expand cooperation in areas such as environment.

This includes preserving the Himalaya and Churia Hills and developing alternative energy sources such as solar and biomass. Cooperation can also extend to tourism, infrastructure, arts, culture, education, biotechnology and connectivity.

RSP leaders and Narendra Modi have exchanged positive messages. However, some persistent issues may need delicate handling. For these, mutual restraint and patience will be essential. As Nepal transforms, both nations have a chance to reset relations.