For the first 18 years of post-monarchy Nepal, the country had 14 prime ministers – leaders changing almost every year, with several taking office, being forced out, and then returning a few years later.On March 5, 2026, Nepal appeared to draw a line in the sand. Months after a Gen Z-led uprising ousted the then-prime minister, KP Sharma Oli, millions of voters chose rapper-turned politician Balendra Shah – or Balen as he is widely known – and his Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) to lead the nation. On Friday, March 27, Shah was sworn in as Nepal’s prime minister.The RSP is barely four years old, and Shah’s only prior political experience is as mayor of the capital, Kathmandu.Now, with a landslide win, analysts and voters say Shah and the RSP have a historic opportunity to build on the popular 2025 revolt and deliver on the aspirations of young Nepalis. But with that opportunity comes risks, they add.“There is so much excitement with the heavy mandate. This is a historical and unprecedented opportunity for him to execute his agenda because his party is likely to have close to a two-thirds majority,” political analyst Bishnu Sapkota told Al Jazeera. But, he added, “ expectations are enormous. I do …
