Nepal undergoes political transformation following youth-led uprising

A youth-led uprising in September 2025 fundamentally reshaped Nepal’s political landscape, leading to the resignation of the prime minister and a significant shift in parliamentary power. The protests, which initially targeted social media restrictions, expanded into a nationwide movement against corruption and political privilege, resulting in 76 deaths and thousands of injuries.

In the 2026 general election, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by Ravi Lamichhane, secured a near-supermajority by winning 182 of the 275 House of Representatives seats. Balendra Shah, a prominent figure from the uprising, joined the RSP and subsequently became prime minister in March 2026. This outcome has left the traditional Nepali Congress (NC) as a significantly reduced opposition, facing a crisis of representation and the urgent need for organizational renewal to regain public confidence.