KATHMANDU, Dec 28: Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, widely known as Balen, was designated as the prime ministerial candidate on Sunday after finalizing a coalition agreement with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) for Nepal’s March 5 general elections.
The seven-point deal, finalized following intense overnight negotiations, positions the 35-year-old Balen as the parliamentary party leader and PM nominee, while Rabi Lamichhane will retain his role as RSP chairperson. The RSP is currently the fourth-largest party in the dissolved House of Representatives.
Under the agreement’s terms, Balen and his group will compete under the RSP’s official election symbol—the ‘Bell’—as allocated by the Election Commission. The merger ensures that the RSP’s party name, flag and electoral symbol remain intact.
Lamichhane emphasized that the alliance should prioritize national interests over individual political ambitions in a Facebook post Sunday morning. “The consensus should reflect the needs of the country rather than the ambitions of individual leaders,” he stated.
The pact commits both sides to take “ownership of the movement launched by the younger generation against corruption and bad governance.” It also pledges to address demands raised by Gen Z protesters, including support for those injured during recent demonstrations.
Political analysts view the agreement as a crucial step toward consolidating youth-led political movements that drove the September protests, which ultimately toppled KP Sharma Oli’s government. The alliance is expected to attract significant Gen Z support in the upcoming polls.
Meanwhile, the newly established Ujyalo Nepal Party (UNP), led by Energy Minister Kulman Ghising, has yet to announce whether it will join the coalition despite holding multiple unity discussions with Balen.
The signing ceremony drew senior RSP figures including Dr Swarnim Wagle, DP Aryal and Shishir Khanal, alongside Asim Shah from Lamichhane’s team. Balen’s camp was represented by Kumar Byanjankar, Nishchal Basnet and Bhoop Dev Shah.
