In a stunning turn of events during Nepal’s general elections held on March 5, former Prime Minister Pushpakamal Dahal, popularly known as Prachanda, secured his seat while two other former prime ministers faced defeat. The elections witnessed a robust performance from the Rashtriya Swatantrata Party (RSP), which is projected to achieve a commanding two-thirds majority by securing 120 out of 156 declared seats as of 5:30 PM on election day.

Significant Defeat for Legacy Political Parties

Among the most notable outcomes, Balendra Shah, the RSP’s prime ministerial candidate, emerged victorious over four-time Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli in the Jhapa-5 constituency. Shah, known as Balen, garnered 68,348 votes while the 74-year-old Oli received only 18,734 votes in a contest that was previously seen as a stronghold for the CPN-UML leader. This election was necessitated after Oli’s resignation on September 9, 2022, following widespread protests led by the youth regarding issues of corruption and restrictions on social media.

Prachanda’s Adaptation in a Changing Political Landscape

Prachanda, aged 71, is recognized for shifting his electoral base with each election cycle. This time, he contested from Rukum East, a traditional stronghold of his former Maoist party. Historically, he has changed constituencies frequently, aiming for more secure electoral ground. In 2007, he won from Rolpa-2 and Kathmandu-10, faced defeat in 2013, but managed victories in Siraha-5 in the same year and in Chitawan-3 in 2017.

Transformation of Political Parties

Leading up to the elections, Prachanda strategically dissolved the CPN-Maoist Centre and rebranded the party as the Nepali Communist Party (NCP). He consolidated numerous smaller factions under this new banner and assumed the role of co-coordinator for the NCP. His tactics included a shift in constituency alignment, with experts noting the significance of these maneuvers in the current political climate.

Former Prime Ministers Suffer Setbacks

Other notable figures such as Madhav Kumar Nepal and Baburam Bhattarai also faced challenges during the elections. Madhav Nepal, 73, lost in Rautahat-1 to RSP candidate Rajesh Kumar Chaudhari, while Bhattarai, 71, withdrew his candidacy from Gorkha-2 prior to the polls. This election cycle did not just mark a shift for prominent leaders but also indicated a broader rejection of traditional political lineages.

RSP Disrupts Established Political Dynamics

The RSP significantly impacted the electoral strongholds of major parties like the Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML, with members of these parties suffering defeats at the hands of RSP candidates. Data from the election commission reveals that around 11 CPN-UML officials faced significant losses, alongside several key figures from the NC.

Focus of the Youth Vote

The elections highlighted pressing issues raised by the youth, including anti-corruption, governance reforms, and the need for generational change in leadership. Observers noted that legacy parties struggled to resonate with voters’ demands for transparency and responsiveness to their concerns. The rejection of seasoned leaders reflects a shifting political landscape in Nepal.

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