Nepal, March 25 -- In a stunning political shift in Nepal, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), established just four years ago by the TV reporter-turned-politician Rabi Lamichhane, has exceeded all expectations and secured a landslide victory in the parliamentary election. The party's success was bolstered by strong backing and endorsement from the rapper-turned-politician and former Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, who was touted as its prime-ministerial candidate.

Nepal has long maintained a delicate equilibrium between its immediate neighbours and international partners to advance its national interests. Within a new political context, the RSP is tasked with leveraging Nepal's geopolitical standing to catalyse socio-economic growth and ...