Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah has been nominated as a prime ministerial candidate in Nepal. He and the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) have reached an agreement to jointly contest the general elections scheduled for March 5. Under this agreement, Balen Shah will contest the elections under the RSP’s election symbol, the ‘bell,’ and an effort will be made to unite youth-led political forces.
Balen Shah Nominated as Nepal PM Candidate
Kathmandu: Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah, popularly known as Balen, has been nominated as a prime ministerial candidate in Nepal. On Sunday, he and the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) reached an agreement to jointly contest the general elections scheduled for March 5.
Following lengthy negotiations that lasted through the night, the 35-year-old Balen was declared the leader of the parliamentary party and the face of the prime ministerial candidacy under a seven-point agreement. Meanwhile, Rabi Lamichhane will remain the chairman of the RSP, the fourth largest party in the dissolved House of Representatives.
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According to the agreement, Balen and his group will contest the elections under the RSP's election symbol, the 'bell.' The party's name, flag, and election symbol will remain unchanged after Balen agreed to merge his team with the RSP. This move is seen as a significant step towards strengthening new youth leadership on the political stage.
Following the agreement, Rabi Lamichhane stated that the decision prioritized the country's needs over personal ambitions. He shared in a Facebook post that the responsibility of the youth generation's movement against corruption and misgovernance has been taken up. This includes a commitment to fulfilling the demands of those injured in the movement and the Generation Z protesters.
Experts believe this agreement is a crucial step towards uniting the emerging youth-led political forces. These leaders had spearheaded the September movement, which led to the fall of KP Sharma Oli's government. This alliance is expected to empower young supporters on the political stage.
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Following the agreement, it is anticipated that a large number of Generation Z supporters will join the RSP. Additionally, the Ujjalo Nepal Party (UNP), led by Kulman Ghising, has also held several rounds of talks with Balen Shah, but a decision on joining the alliance has not yet been made.
Balen Shah's candidacy for Prime Minister and the agreement with the RSP are significant steps towards strengthening youth leadership in Nepalese politics and intensifying the fight against corruption and misgovernance. This alliance is considered crucial in the upcoming elections on March 5th.
