The March 5 Nepalese elections spotlight Jhapa-5 as former PM KP Oli contends with Balen Shah, the engineer-turned-rapper-turned-politician who upended Kathmandu’s mayoral race. This blockbuster duel between experience and insurgency has riveted the country, signaling potential upheavals in the political landscape.
Oli’s deep roots in Jhapa-5 date back 34 years to his initial win; this marks his eighth outing. Historically a campaign trailblazer for UML across Nepal, he’s now compelled to focus domestically due to Balen’s bold challenge, per local coverage, limiting his national forays.
Shah, who captured Kathmandu’s mayoralty independently in 2022 before stepping down in January, brings anti-system fervor. His victory defied traditional parties, and during the violent 2025 protests against Oli’s coalition—19 fatalities, 300+ wounded—he symbolized youth rage, especially post his September exit.
Balen’s social media prowess, with legions of fans, fuels his reputation for forthright dissent, from platform bans to governance critiques. Youth back him as renewal’s harbinger. His UML frictions, including Oli exchanges online, have crystallized into this arena battle.
Affiliated with RSP promoting his PM prospects, the contest frames Oli’s entrenched communism against Balen’s disruptive wave. Once impregnable, Jhapa-5’s 2023 vote shifts offer Balen openings in its communist heartland.
A voter pool of 163,379 holds the key, their choice poised to influence not just the duel but leaders’ destinies. In Nepal’s fractious scene, Jhapa-5’s verdict may herald a new era or reinforce the old.