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In a notable development ahead of next year's general election, a pair of high-profile figures in Nepali politics have joined forces. This coalition emerges in the aftermath of widespread and fatal young people's demonstrations that rocked the country earlier this year and eventually resulted in the removal of the sitting government.

A Commitment to Address Youth Concerns

Media figure Rabi Lamichhane, who leads the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, a one-time rapper, have publicly pledged to prioritize the grievances raised by the new generation. This promise follows the turbulent anti-graft unrest that took place in September, which resulted in significant casualties.

"Agreement must not be what a leader wants, it should be what the country needs," stated Lamichhane after the agreement was signed.

The September uprising was triggered by public anger over a short-lived government ban on social media platforms. This action acted as a catalyst for deeper discontent stemming from years of slow growth and persistent allegations of systemic political corruption.

Details of the New Electoral Agreement

According to the formal agreement, the roles for the approaching election have been clarified. Rabi Lamichhane will remain as the chairperson of the RSP. Meanwhile, Balendra Shah will be the alliance's nominee for the position of prime minister in the election set for 5 March.

• Rabi Lamichhane: A popular fifty-one-year-old television personality, he founded the RSP in 2022, channeling widespread public dissatisfaction with the nation's older political leadership. He has previously served in the positions of deputy prime minister and interior minister. He was not long ago released on bail in a case involving reported cooperative fraud and organized crime.
• Balendra Shah (Balen): The thirty-five-year-old mayor of Kathmandu is viewed as a key figure in Nepal's current political shift. He was instrumental in setting up the caretaker government that took over after the previous administration was dissolved.

Wider Government Consultations Underway

In a separate development, the sitting interim prime minister recently conducted meetings with a number of major political leaders. These discussions included ex- prime ministers and the presidents of rival major parties, marking the initial such dialogue since the period of the uprising.

After these discussions, the prime minister posted on social media to state that holding a free and fair election is a shared duty. The statement affirmed the government's commitment to ensuring a safe and fear-free environment for the electoral process, adding that efforts are being made to remove any uncertainty.