Rapper-turned-mayor Balen Shah Spurs Nepal's Reformist Landslide
Nepal’s centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party, led by rapper-turned-mayor Balendra “Balen” Shah, appears set for a landslide in the 275-seat House, with about 100 direct-seat wins and leadership in proportional votes, signaling a major anti-establishment shift after last year’s youth-led protests; Shah even defeated veteran PM Oli in his district, campaigning on health and education while benefiting from a large diaspora-funded operation.