Voters in the Himalayan nation have soured on establishment parties and politicians. Early returns hint at a newcomer party taking the reins after Gen Z protests demanding change last year.

Early election returns in the Himalayan nation of Nepal point to a potential landslide victory for the newcomer Rastriya Swatantra Party (National Independence Party, or RSP) in general elections, with establishment parties, so far, trailing far behind.

The centrist-liberal RSP was founded in 2022 and has put great emphasis on transparency, digital modernization and good governance.

The vote was largely focused on political change in an echo of deadly youth protests in the nation last year.

Nepal's Election Commission said preliminary results in the 24 hours since polls closed showed RSP winning three of parliament's 165 open seats and leading decisively in the race for 110 more.

Establishment parties Nepali Congress, the big winner in the last election; and the Communist Party of Nepal, led by Sharma Oli, were leading in 13 and 11 races, respectively.

A final tally is expected in the next several days.

If the trend holds, RSP could be on track to snatch a nearly two-thirds majority in Nepal's 275-member parliament.

On Friday evening, Election Commission spokesman Prakash Nyupane said counting was proceeding "in a peaceful manner."

Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki, a 73-year-old former chief justice who reluctantly came out of retirement to temporarily lead the nation, also praised the peaceful conduct of a vote she said was critical in "determining our future."

The Election Commission says a total of 3,400 candidates vied for seats in the vote, adding that voter turnout was 59% in the nation of 30 million.

Former Rapper Could Be Nepal's Next Prime Minister

Nepal's vote comes after youth-led protests, largely labeled a Gen Z uprising, sparked violent clashes with authorities last September.

Initially triggered by a proposed social media ban, the protests also lashed out at systemic corruption and economic hardship. In the end, 77 people were killed and several government buildings were burned during the tumult.

In the vote to replace Nepal's interim government, former rapper Balendra Shah currently looks like a potential frontrunner for the job of prime minister. Better known by his stage name Balen, Shah is one of a slew of young candidates eager to lead the country in a new direction.

Shah has painted himself as a symbol of the youth vote for change in what observers say is the most hotly contested vote since the end of Nepal's civil war in 2006.

The contrast has been made glaringly clear in Shah's home constituency, Jhapa-5, where the 35-year-old is in a head-to-head race with Sharma Oli of the CPN.

Oli is a 74-year-old, four-time prime minister who was forced out of office during the 2025 anti-corruption protests.

On Friday evening, Shah had amassed nearly five times as many votes as Oli in what observers say is an indication of the level of voter dissatisfaction with the country's previous leaders.