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In a significant move ahead of next year's national polls, a pair of prominent personalities in Nepali politics have joined forces. This coalition comes in the wake of large-scale and fatal young people's protests that shook the country earlier this year and eventually resulted in the ouster of the incumbent government.

A Commitment to Address Young People's Demands

Television host Rabi Lamichhane, who heads the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, a one-time rapper, have officially pledged to prioritize the grievances raised by the new generation. This promise comes after the turbulent anti-corruption protests that occurred in September, which resulted in considerable casualties.

"Agreement must not be as the leader seeks, it should be what the country needs," remarked Lamichhane following the agreement was signed.

The September uprising was triggered by public frustration over a temporary government ban on social media platforms. This incident acted as a spark for underlying discontent stemming from a long period of economic stagnation and persistent accusations of systemic political corruption.

Details of the New Electoral Partnership

According to the official pact, the positions for the imminent election have been clarified. Rabi Lamichhane will remain as the chairperson of the RSP. In turn, Balendra Shah will be the party's nominee for the position of prime minister in the election scheduled for 5 March.

• Rabi Lamichhane: A well-known 51-year-old TV host, he founded the RSP in 2022, channeling broad discontent with the country's older political leadership. He has previously served in the posts of deputy prime minister and interior minister. He was recently released on bail in a case related to alleged cooperative fraud and organized crime.
• Balendra Shah (Balen): The 35-year-old mayor of Kathmandu is viewed as a key figure in Nepal's current political transition. He was instrumental in setting up the caretaker government that took over after the previous administration was dissolved.

Wider Government Discussions Underway

In a related event, the current interim prime minister recently conducted meetings with a number of major political figures. These talks included former prime ministers and the heads of rival major parties, marking the first such dialogue since the period of the uprising.

After these discussions, the prime minister posted on social media to state that holding a credible election is a shared duty. The statement affirmed the government's commitment to guaranteeing a safe and open environment for the polls, adding that efforts are being made to eliminate any room for doubt.