Kathmandu, Nepal, March 10, 2026: In a significant diplomatic gesture marking a new chapter in regional relations, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has personally congratulated the victorious leadership duo of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Chairman Rabi Lamichhane and senior leader Balendra "Balen" Shah. This outreach follows a seismic shift in Nepal’s general elections held on March 5, 2026, where the RSP secured a staggering 125 seats in the House of Representatives.
In a warm telephone conversation, Prime Minister Modi conveyed his best wishes to both Lamichhane and Shah for their party’s historic mandate. Highlighting the deep-rooted ties between the two nations, Modi expressed India's readiness to work in close coordination with the incoming leadership to achieve "shared peace, progress, and prosperity." Taking to social media, the Prime Minister further lauded the "vibrant" democratic spirit of the Nepali people, reaffirming that New Delhi remains a "steadfast partner" as the Himalayan republic transitions into a new political era.
The RSP’s 125-seat victory in the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) category has effectively dismantled the decades-long dominance of Nepal's legacy parties. The "Balen Wave" reached its peak in the Jhapa-5 constituency, where Shah delivered a crushing blow to four-time Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. Shah secured 68,348 votes against Oli’s 18,734, a result that political analysts characterize as a definitive public rejection of the traditional establishment following the anti-corruption "Gen Z Uprising" of late 2025.
With the RSP also dominating the Proportional Representation count—holding approximately 50% of the vote share—the party is on a clear path to a standalone parliamentary majority. At 35, Balen Shah is now the frontrunner to become Nepal’s youngest-ever Prime Minister and its first leader of Madhesi heritage. Meanwhile, Rabi Lamichhane’s organizational leadership is credited with channeling the country's youth-led frustration into a disciplined, technocratic political force.
The collapse of the old guard was underscored by the dismal performance of the Nepali Congress (NC) and the CPN-UML, which secured only 18 and 9 seats, respectively. As the RSP prepares to form the next government, the international community, led by India, is closely watching what is expected to be a reform-heavy administration focused on transparency and rapid economic modernization.
