Rabi Lamichhane's RSP Secures Major Victory in Nepal Elections
Synopsis
Rabi Lamichhane, the President of the RSP, triumphs in the Nepal elections, winning the Chitwan Constituency-2 by a landslide. His party leads across the nation, marking a significant shift in Nepal's political landscape.
Key Takeaways
Rabi Lamichhane wins Chitwan Constituency-2 by a large margin.
The RSP secures a majority of seats in the elections.
Lamichhane has faced legal challenges regarding his citizenship.
His partnership with Balen Shah has been a strategic success.
Traditional parties are significantly behind in the vote count.
Kathmandu, March 7 (NationPress) Rabi Lamichhane, the leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has achieved a significant victory, securing a seat in Nepal’s House of Representatives from Chitwan Constituency-2 with an impressive margin. His relatively new political party has dominated the elections, winning a majority of seats nationwide this year. Lamichhane garnered 54,402 votes, leaving his closest rival, Meena Kharel from the Nepali Congress, with just 14,564 votes.
This marks the third time that the former media personality has triumphed in this constituency, establishing Chitwan as a stronghold for his party over the last three years.
Initially, Lamichhane was elected to the lower house in the 2022 parliamentary elections, but he lost his parliamentary status when the Supreme Court of Nepal invalidated his citizenship certificate.
On January 27, 2023, the court ruled that he had improperly contested the election using an invalid citizenship certificate after renouncing his U.S. citizenship, which led to the loss of his parliamentary seat, his role as Home Minister, and his party presidency.
Following this setback, Lamichhane made a comeback in the April 2023 bye-elections, reclaiming his seat with even greater support.
Over the past three years, he has faced allegations of fraud involving cooperative institutions prior to his political career, and he spent time in custody until he was released by a court order shortly before the elections on March 5.
His partnership with former rapper-turned-politician Balen Shah, who is currently leading in Jhapa-5 against former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, has been a strategic success. The RSP has already secured 20 seats and is currently leading in 95 constituencies out of the 165 contested under the First-Past-the-Post system.
Traditional political parties such as the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) (CPN-UML) are significantly trailing behind the RSP in the ongoing vote count.
Point of View
It's evident that Rabi Lamichhane's victory represents a significant milestone in Nepal's evolving political landscape. The RSP's rise indicates a shift in voter sentiment, reflecting a desire for change and a departure from traditional political structures.
NationPress
23 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Rabi Lamichhane?
Rabi Lamichhane is the President of the Rastriya Swatantra Party and a prominent politician in Nepal, previously a media personality.
What was the outcome of the recent Nepal elections?
The Rastriya Swatantra Party, led by Rabi Lamichhane, won a majority of seats in the Nepal elections, with Lamichhane himself winning Chitwan Constituency-2.
What controversies has Lamichhane faced?
He faced allegations of fraud related to cooperative institutions before his political career and had his citizenship certificate invalidated by the Supreme Court.
How did Lamichhane regain his parliamentary seat?
After losing his seat in January 2023 due to citizenship issues, Lamichhane was re-elected in the April 2023 bye-elections with a larger vote share.
What is the significance of RSP's victory?
The RSP's victory indicates a shift in Nepal's political dynamics, with traditional parties trailing behind, suggesting changing voter preferences.
