New Delhi, March 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended heartfelt congratulations to Nepal's Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) leaders, Rabi Lamichhane and Balendra Shah, after their party's decisive victory in Nepal’s parliamentary elections. The Prime Minister expressed India's continued commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and working alongside Nepal for mutual prosperity and growth.
In separate phone calls, PM Modi shared his confidence that the joint efforts of both nations would elevate India-Nepal relations to new heights.
"I had warm conversations with Mr. Rabi Lamichhane, Chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and Mr. Balendra Shah, Senior Leader of RSP," Modi tweeted. "I conveyed my best wishes for the formation of their new government and reaffirmed India’s commitment to collaborate for the prosperity, progress, and well-being of both our nations."
RSP's Landmark Victory in Nepal's Elections
The results of Nepal's general elections have largely been declared, with 161 out of 165 seats decided under direct voting. The outcome for the remaining four seats is awaited.
Founded just three-and-a-half years ago, RSP achieved an overwhelming victory by securing 125 of the 165 seats under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system. The party triumphed over established political figures, including former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Shah, the former mayor of Kathmandu and RSP's candidate for prime minister, made history by amassing the highest vote tally in Nepal’s parliamentary history, securing 68,348 votes in Jhapa-5, a constituency previously considered Oli’s stronghold.
RSP is also leading in proportional representation, claiming over 48% of the vote share. If current trends continue, the party may secure a near two-thirds majority in Nepal's 275-member House of Representatives—a feat not achieved since the country's 1991 elections.
Under proportional representation, RSP received 40,49,604 votes, followed by the Nepali Congress (13,60,281), the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) with 11,50,679, and the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) with 5,91,940 votes. Other parties, including the Shram Sanskriti Party (2,91,965), Janata Samajwadi Party (1,16,463), and the Rastriya Parivartan Party (2,76,931), trailed far behind.
Political analysts attribute RSP's success to widespread public frustration with the traditional parties' mismanagement, economic stagnation, and failures in foreign policy. The RSP's victory also follows last year’s Gen-Z protests, which led to the downfall of the coalition government under Oli, signaling a shift in voter sentiment toward new political forces.
With this historic mandate, the RSP is set to form Nepal's next government, marking a significant turning point in the country’s political landscape.
