With the vote counting of the House of Representatives (HoR) election almost complete, the country has entered a new political chapter. The result of this historic election carries a clear message: voters frustrated with the performance of older parties have chosen change. The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has swept the election and is moving toward a two-thirds majority in the 275-member HoR—a result rarely seen in Nepal’s political history. For years, power circulated among a few old parties, but this time voters broke that pattern.
Many citizens had grown tired of traditional parties, citing rising corruption, slow decision-making, internal disputes, and leaders’ apathy toward daily public concerns. Repeated coalition governments further weakened citizens’ trust. Young voters, in particular, demanded something different, as demonstrated by the Gen Z protests that shook the country last year. The RSP captured this sentiment. With many young and clean faces, the party appealed to voters and promised reforms in governance. The rise of Balendra Shah, widely known as Balen, added momentum to the campaign. His reputation as a straightforward, outspoken mayor gave the party a face that many young voters could trust. As a result, the RSP turned public frustration into a massive vote share.
Change of Guard and OBOR
For the RSP, victory brings both opportunity and heavy responsibility. A two-thirds majority will enable the new government to pass major laws and even consider amending the constitution. However, such power, granted by sovereign citizens, must be used with utmost care. The new government, likely led by former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, should focus on achieving clear and realistic goals, ensuring clean governance, reviving the economy, improving public services, and strengthening public institutions. Citizens expect swift action, but governing a country with diverse aspirations is far more challenging than winning an election. The new leadership must demonstrate patience, competence, and respect for democratic rules. If it listens to citizens and keeps its election promises, the RSP could reshape Nepali politics for years and consolidate its position.
For the old parties that suffered humiliating defeats, the results should serve as a wake-up call. The Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, the Nepali Communist Party, and others must examine their mistakes. Many have lost touch with voters, while internal disputes, differences, and weak party structures hindered their campaigns. Veteran leaders repeated the same arguments and mistakes, while citizens expected fresh solutions to corruption, economic hardship, unemployment, and rising migration. These parties now have no choice but to abandon old habits and implement serious reforms. Honest reviews of leadership conduct, discipline, and public service will help rebuild trust.
At the same time, the winning party must remember that opposition politics carries an important duty in a multiparty parliamentary democracy. A strong opposition checks the government and safeguards democratic balance. The next five years will test everyone. The winners must prove that positive change and development can be delivered in practice, while the losing parties must learn from defeat and rebuild public trust. Above all, the March election has shown that Nepali voters remain vigilant and willing to shift the balance of power when leaders fail to meet public aspirations.
