All eyes on Jhapa-5: Who will win – Balen or Oli?
Summary
The 2026 parliamentary race in Jhapa-5 is a high-profile contest between CPN (UML) leader KP Sharma Oli and Rastriya Swatantra Party's Balendra Shah, symbolizing a clash between Nepal's entrenched political class and emerging youth-led reform movements.
Key Points
- The 2026 elections in Nepal are framed as a contest between old political powers and new emerging forces, exemplified by the Jhapa-5 race.
- KP Sharma Oli, a four-time prime minister and UML chairman, has a long-standing stronghold in Jhapa-5.
- Balendra Shah (Balen), former Kathmandu mayor and RSP leader, is challenging Oli in Jhapa-5 to symbolize political change and youth empowerment.
- The election is seen as a bellwether for Nepal’s political future, emphasizing legacy versus reform and experience versus innovation.
