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In a notable development ahead of the upcoming general election, a pair of prominent personalities in Nepali politics have joined forces. This alliance comes in the wake of large-scale and deadly youth-led protests that shook the country earlier this year and eventually led to the removal of the incumbent government.

A Pledge to Address Young People's Concerns

Media figure Rabi Lamichhane, who heads the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, a one-time rapper, have publicly pledged to focus on the grievances raised by the new generation. This promise comes after the turbulent anti-corruption unrest that took place in September, which led to considerable casualties.

"Agreement should not be what a leader wants, it should be what the country needs," stated Lamichhane following the agreement was finalized.

The late summer revolt was sparked by widespread frustration over a short-lived government ban on social media platforms. This incident acted as a spark for deeper discontent stemming from a long period of economic stagnation and longstanding allegations of deep-rooted political corruption.

Terms of the Fresh Political Agreement

According to the official pact, the roles for the imminent election have been defined. Rabi Lamichhane will remain as the leader of the RSP. In turn, Balendra Shah will be the party's candidate for the role of prime minister in the election set for 5 March.

• Rabi Lamichhane: A popular 51-year-old television personality, he founded the RSP in 2022, channeling widespread discontent with the country's established political class. He has in the past held the posts of deputy prime minister and interior minister. He was not long ago released on bail in a case related to reported cooperative fraud and organized crime.
• Balendra Shah (Balen): The thirty-five-year-old mayor of Kathmandu is viewed as a central player in Nepal's current political transition. He was instrumental in setting up the interim government that came to power after the ousted administration was removed.

Broader Government Discussions Underway

In a related event, the sitting interim prime minister recently conducted meetings with a number of leading political figures. These talks involved ex- prime ministers and the presidents of rival mainstream parties, marking the initial such gathering since the period of the protests.

After these meetings, the prime minister posted on social media to emphasize that conducting a credible election is a shared duty. The statement affirmed the government's commitment to ensuring a secure and fear-free environment for the electoral process, adding that efforts are being made to eliminate any room for doubt.