Himalayan States in March 2026: the most important developments in politics
In March 2026 the Himalayan state of Nepal held a general parliamentary election on 5 March, widely described as historic and held after a year of youth-led protests demanding political change. Voters focused on nepotism and corruption. Early results on 6 March showed the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by former rapper and former Kathmandu mayor Balendra (Balen) Shah, leading in 23 seats, a shift away from the country's traditional parties. By 8 March the party had won a landslide victory, unseating the former prime minister, with support from younger voters, and Shah was set to become prime minister. A social media post by Shah from 2025 with offensive remarks about America, India and China resurfaced during the count. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Shah and said India-Nepal ties would scale new heights, and Nepal's foreign minister said investment and connectivity are key to the partnership with China.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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