Rabi–Balen alliance signals a new political dawn in Nepal

KATHMANDU: A seven-point agreement between Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane and Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah has created a fresh stir in Nepal’s political landscape, with leaders calling it the beginning of a “new political chapter.”

Interim election government spokesperson and Minister for Communication and Information Technology Jagdish Kharel has welcomed the pact as a positive and forward-looking development. Taking to social media on Sunday, Kharel—also a spokesperson of the so-called “Gen Z movement”-backed government—described the collaboration as a “new beginning for a new day.”

“New day, new beginning. The dream of a beautiful and prosperous Nepal. The destination is taking shape,” Kharel wrote on Facebook.

Likewise, RSP Vice-President DP Aryal has termed the unity between Lamichhane and Mayor Shah as a reflection of the aspirations and sentiments of the Nepali people.

In a social media post following what he called a “historic agreement” between the two leaders, Aryal said the alliance has infused fresh political enthusiasm across the country.

Aryal, who was part of nearly 10 hours of intense discussions that began on Saturday evening, said the public had long wished to see the two young leaders on the same political platform—and that aspiration has now been fulfilled.

“Following the hopes and expectations of the people, the two leaders have now come together under the RSP,” Aryal wrote. “This agreement is not merely a union of two individuals, but a vital link in the responsibility entrusted by the people to build a prosperous Nepal.”

According to Aryal, the understanding reached at 4:15 am on Sunday is expected to elevate the country’s future political direction.

As per the agreement, the RSP will project Balen Shah as its future prime ministerial candidate in the upcoming House of Representatives elections.

The deal also confirms that the party will continue under the name Rastriya Swatantra Party with the election symbol Ghanti (Bell).

It further includes an understanding to update party records at the Election Commission by incorporating central committee members nominated from Mayor Shah’s side.

While President Rabi Lamichhane has repeatedly said the agreement represents the kind of consensus the country urgently needs, and Vice-Chairperson Dr Swarnim Wagle has welcomed Shah as an RSP leader, DP Aryal has framed the pact as nothing less than a “victory of public sentiment.”

The alliance between Lamichhane and Shah is being widely viewed as a potentially transformative moment in Nepali politics, particularly among young voters seeking change beyond traditional power structures.