As with every new year, 2025 also brings new fashion trends. Ever-changing styles prompt people to follow a handful of global brands. The fashion industry is designed for quick turnover, and the planned obsolescence of what is currently ‘in’. Even with greater public consciousness about the environment, the industry has seldom responded with more sustainable choices of fabric, better treatment of <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/opinion/uneven-pandemic-impact-on-nepali-women">its labour force</a>, or efforts to reduce waste. The global fashion industry accounted for 10% of all <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/news/nepal-doubles-its-carbon-footprint">carbon emissions </a>in 2019, and it is the second-largest consumer of water, according to UNEP. Which is why there is now a move towards ‘sustainable fashion’ so consumers can make choices that benefit both the planet and the people making the products. “Sustainable fashion is a lifestyle choice,” explains Meena Gurung, founder of Bora Studio, which uses natural fabrics and dyes in its clothes. “It’s about how we live and what we choose to wear, being humble, being content with what we already have, and finding happiness in simplicity.”  <figure><img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20250102120112_1805b38cb84eda05005e5f22bcd6545387d2fc225bb58e25c4ed98cf083c3963.jpg" data-media-id="editor_2" data-image-id="20250102120112_1805b38cb84eda05005e5f22bcd6545387d2fc225bb58e25c4ed98cf083c3963" data-rendition-name="original" width="1080" height="1350" loading="lazy" alt="fabric2"><figcaption>Photo: BORA STUDIO</figcaption></figure>  But Gurung is not too fond of the term ‘sustainable fashion’ because she feels that the concept has been commodified, turning it into a marketing buzzword to greenwash products that are actually about greenbacks. She adds: “True sustainability requires conscientious decisions made by both seller and buyer.” Since 2017 at Bora Studio, Gurung has been exploring natural, locally sourced fabrics like hemp, bamboo, nettle and raw silk, along with plant-dyeing and botanical printing. These fabrics provide eco-friendly alternatives to conventional textiles and require less resources like water and chemicals. Read also: <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/review/alternative-lifestyle-alternative-art">Alternative lifestyle, alternative art</a>, Alisha Sijapati The other fabric from Nepal that is finding buyers worldwide is सिस्नु nettle, which can be a game-changer, as it grows in abundance even in wild, dry areas and regenerates quickly. Hemp also grows wild, and has proven to be a popular raw material for clothing and bags. Bamboo grows in abundance all over the mid-mountains, and among its multiple uses, its pulp can also be turned into an organic fabric. Mala Thapa Magar of <a href="https://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/Nepali-Times-Buzz/Buzz-the-fibres-of-success,541">Himalayan Allo Udhyog</a> is one of the top suppliers of woven nettle textile and clothing from Nepal. She says, “Nettle fabric is smooth, strong, light and durable. It has great potential, although production is challenging because it has to be harvested from remote forests. Transporting it is difficult.”  <figure><img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20250102120120_ac01c3cb9854788f74960b641066a4deef6cd721296cf3e26c82a85c01a58bfd.jpg" data-media-id="editor_5" data-image-id="20250102120120_ac01c3cb9854788f74960b641066a4deef6cd721296cf3e26c82a85c01a58bfd" data-rendition-name="original" width="1080" height="1350" loading="lazy" alt="nettle"><figcaption>Photo: HIMALAYAN ALLO UDHYOG</figcaption></figure>  Stinging nettle grows and decomposes in the wild, and sustainably harvesting the plants has a minimal ecological footprint. Despite its abundance in the forest undergrowth, however, lack of awareness and difficulties in harvesting and transportation means the true potential to turn this plant into a silk-like fabric has not been fully realised. When it comes to sourcing new fabric, Meena Gurung personally visits various parts of Nepal, relying on small-scale industries and local artisans who weave using traditional material in their homes. “The quality may not always be perfect, but knowing that the raw material is local and natural gives me peace of mind,” says Gurung, whose company also recycles and reuses what has already come in. She does not use refined silk because of the larval loss and harm to the environment, and does not source raw silk for bigger projects, purposely limiting its demand. Mass production, she believes, undermines the very essence of sustainability. Read also: <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/multimedia/weaving-the-fabric-of-a-new-life">Weaving the fabric of a new life</a>, Sahina Shrestha “Sustainability doesn’t always have to be expensive or difficult,” she says. “You can start by <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/banner/upscaling-upcycling">reusing and recycling</a> what you, or your parents and grandparents have. Swap clothes with friends. You can live sustainably without spending a fortune.” Gurung and Magar are two women Nepali social entrepreneurs who are making a mark with <a href="https://nepalitimes.com/here-now/fashionable-naturally?fbclid=IwAR0uozGYxFn52umG0ohDdnDVBJ0-sIHywo8Va5_9rl-uPH-jkWJ_flLYXXo">nature-friendly products</a> that are also socially beneficial. Their work forces us to question what we eat and wear every day, where the products we use come from, how they are made, where they go, and what happens along the way. Turning to sustainable fashion in 2025 could be one new year’s resolution that will benefit people and the planet.

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Seams sustainable

The fashion industry is said to be the second most harmful for the global climate, as many fabrics are petroleum-based, cotton cultivation is water-intensive, most garments are stitched in sweatshops in the Global South, and changing <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/latest/fashion-statement-from-the-roof-of-the-world">fashion</a> trends are inherently wasteful. Nepali designer<a href="https://www.sanyuktashrestha.com/"> Sanyukta Shrestha</a> is out to change an industry driven by fast fashion. Her sustainable wear has earned her the name, ‘Green Goddess’ with designs created from fabrics made of bamboo, banana, hemp, organic cotton and wild nettle.&nbsp; “Our planet faces the interconnected crises of rapid<a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/climate-change-is-a-disaster-in-the-nepal-himalaya"> climate change</a> and biodiversity loss, and we have no time to address existential threats to it. There is no planet B,” the London-based designer told Nepali Times in an email interview. “Sustainable fashion is our future.”  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/2023042010048_51fef5cb24344189ad94efc1f7ae7efba32cbc823e2db07f84d064a3281edd4b.jpg" data-media-id="editor_3" data-image-id="2023042010048_51fef5cb24344189ad94efc1f7ae7efba32cbc823e2db07f84d064a3281edd4b" data-rendition-name="original" width="1333" height="1772" loading="lazy" alt="Sanyukta Shrestha"> <figcaption>Photo: Piers Cunliffe</figcaption> </figure>  Shrestha was 17 years old when she won her very first fashion design award in Nepal. That was 1998, and she could not have known that within twenty years, her designs would be worn by the world’s most famous people.&nbsp; “While I was growing up, the term ‘fashion’ was not in my dictionary,” Shrestha said. “I was completely unaware of the world I got into.”&nbsp; Shrestha had grown up in Nepal at a time when families had a stricter view of what constituted professional success. Her father would rather she became a doctor or engineer, and got a job that would guarantee security.&nbsp;  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20230420090452_43219ec4623a01146ec31ea96e9aa70024ed762617d59cf04714dafa5311051e.jpg" data-media-id="editor_4" data-image-id="20230420090452_43219ec4623a01146ec31ea96e9aa70024ed762617d59cf04714dafa5311051e" data-rendition-name="original" width="4000" height="6000" loading="lazy" alt="Sanyukta Shrestha 2"> <figcaption>Photo: Kev Elkins Photography</figcaption> </figure>  But she was a creative child, and that eventually turned into a determination that whatever she did would have to be in the arts. Shrestha eventually moved to London, graduated from the London College of Fashion, and in 2011 launched her eponymous sustainable luxury bridal label.&nbsp; “My desire has always been to bring out the inner beauty within every woman,” says Shrestha. “To do that on the biggest, most important day of a woman’s life is truly fulfilling.” By 2012, one of her sustainable couture creations was featured at The Fashion Museum in Bath alongside other renowned designs dating back to the 16th century. Over the next decades, Shrestha’s work continued to garner acclaim in the fashion and entertainment world, reaching red carpets at the Academy Awards, BAFTA awards, as well as the Cannes Film Festival.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/2023042010040_d2551420f33a724e50b9ff0c157600d5c784ee053f5bebe6dc095891958cd8ad.jpg" data-media-id="editor_5" data-image-id="2023042010040_d2551420f33a724e50b9ff0c157600d5c784ee053f5bebe6dc095891958cd8ad" data-rendition-name="original" width="2505" height="3543" loading="lazy" alt="Newspaper Sanyukta"> <figcaption>SS Newspaper Couture dress at Fashion Museum Bath.(Photo: Fashion Museum, 2022)</figcaption> </figure>  But her career path has not been easy, it has taken Shrestha much time and dedication.“It is not for the faint of heart. The process has not been easy, but it has been very rewarding,” she added. Shrestha has sometimes spent up to two years researching a particular fabric and the whole production process to make sure it was sustainable even before starting to design. And Shrestha’s green designs inevitably infuse traditional Nepali fabric and craft. The organic materials are hand-spun and hand-loomed, and are sourced through social organisations in Nepal.&nbsp;  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20230420090456_b1a8e6a49b00c9d8a9591dfeb2ac78995a3e3115b75eb30c6dc0ab4d34fecedb.jpg" data-media-id="editor_6" data-image-id="20230420090456_b1a8e6a49b00c9d8a9591dfeb2ac78995a3e3115b75eb30c6dc0ab4d34fecedb" data-rendition-name="original" width="6000" height="4000" loading="lazy" alt="Sanyukta Shrestha 3"> <figcaption>Photo: Kev Elkins Photography</figcaption> </figure>  “Nepal is everywhere in my work,” Shrestha admitted. “My clients have freedom and comfort when it comes to the design of the dress, but within that dress, they feel Nepal’s artisans and rich heritage.” In 2021, Sanyukta Shrestha won the <a href="https://www.peta.org.uk/living/vegan-wedding-awards-2021/">Luxury Award at PETA’s 2021 Vegan Wedding Awards</a>. In May 2022, she attended the red carpet at the world premiere of actor Tom Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick.&nbsp; Later that same year, Shrestha, wearing one of her own sustainable creations, met the designer Jean Paul Gaultier at the 2022 Fashion Awards.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20230420090456_1a60ad0b4f4f8964f96ceac8c4e6a27538d52d4fc499bae1093b18aa763d3e4d.jpg" data-media-id="editor_8" data-image-id="20230420090456_1a60ad0b4f4f8964f96ceac8c4e6a27538d52d4fc499bae1093b18aa763d3e4d" data-rendition-name="original" width="6000" height="4000" loading="lazy" alt="Sanyukta Shrestha 4"> <figcaption>Photo: Kev Elkins Photography</figcaption> </figure>  She was a keynote speaker for Ahmedabad Design Week 4.0 at Karnavati University in January alongside other global innovators that included design and tech pioneers. Shrestha’s solo exhibition, 'The Eco Warrior', was also launched at the Karnavati Literature and Film Festival in February. In March, Shrestha was shortlisted for the ‘Visionary Leadership Award’ by the UK’s Small Business Awards 2023. And last month she was shortlisted for the ‘Wedding Boutique of the Year Award’ by Britain's Asian Wedding Awards 2023. Shrestha also has an eye out for other Nepali fashion and designers on the international stage. She added, “Fashion from Nepal has started to make a mark internationally. I am sure that there will be more amazing talents in the coming years that will make it stand out on the global stage.” &nbsp; Read Also: <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/multimedia/hurdles-come-with-the-terrain-in-nepal-s-fashion-industry">Hurdles come with the terrain in Nepal's fashion industry</a>, Naresh Newar

Shristi Karki

Fashionable, naturally

<figure><img width="1330" height="1500" src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221110141156/636d03469c7e80680e0a36c3jpeg.jpg" alt=""/><figcaption>Photos: KEV ELKINS/PETA</figcaption></figure>UK-based Nepali fashion designer <a href="https://www.sanyuktashrestha.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sanyukta Shrestha</a>’s eponymous sustainable bridal brand has won a sustainable fashion award from the animal welfare organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
Shrestha’s designs are known to infuse traditional Nepali craft, and are made from sustainable materials like hand-spun and hand-loomed bamboo, banana, hemp, organic cotton, and wild nettle. She won the Luxury Award at PETA’s  2021 Vegan Wedding Awards.
“Winning the PETA Vegan Wedding award was an emotional moment that left us in tears,” said Shrestha, noting that the award marked an important milestone for the brand’s value and vision. The award was announced on her label’s tenth anniversary.
Shrestha, who was born and raised in Nepal, volunteered at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Women’s Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC) in Kathmandu two decades ago. This experience eventually led her to pursue a career in design, and she graduated from the London College of Fashion, and launched her bridal collection in 2011.
Shrestha’s work is internationally acclaimed, with one of her sustainable couture creations having been preserved at The Fashion Museum in Bath, England. Her designs have been worn by public figures including supermodel Candice Swanepoel, American band Fifth Harmony as well as actors Natalie Coyle and Amy Nuttall from the television series The Sopranos and Downton Abbey respectively.
The climate conscious designer had previously won ‘Editor’s Choice Award’ at the Bridal Buyer Award in 2020.
The PETA Vegan Wedding Awards had 12 categories and high-profile participants and collaborators, with global figures such as British singer Leona Lewis winning the Vegan Wedding Influencer Award.
The global fashion industry with its fleeting trends and substantial carbon footprint has long been critiqued as wasteful and unsustainable. In fact, the cotton and textile industries are the second largest users and polluters of freshwater resources worldwide, and the increasing use of synthetic material in clothing is adding to the waste.
“Because true luxury is kind, high-end designer Sanyukta Shrestha received the accolade for her collection of gorgeous wedding gowns made from high-quality vegan fabrics… allowing brides to walk down the aisle in style while being kind to the planet and the animals we share it with,” PETA Director Elisa Allen said in a statement.
Nepal,<a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/opinion/mountainous-regions-face-catastrophic-impacts-without-urgent-climate-action/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> one of the countries most vulnerable to the impact of climate change</a>, also has a nascent sustainable fashion movement, most recently with the <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/latest/fashion-statement-from-the-roof-of-the-world/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2nd edition of the Mt Everest Fashion Runway </a>event this year in Gokyo.
The fashion event aimed to encourage post-pandemic eco-tourism, and turn the Himalayan nation into a global hub for sustainable fashion.
The designs included in the fashion show were made of biodegradable fabric such as <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/info-age-boost-for-nepals-pashmina/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pashmina</a>, wool felt, and cruelty-free silk in a bid to promote renewable and ethically sourced fabrics.
Proceeds from the sale of the Everest event is set to be donated to the Himalayan Climate Initiative (HCI), a youth-driven, Nepali non-profit that promotes climate resilience and supports the Himalayan communities.

Nepali designer awarded

<figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110714118/636903c19c7e80680e037ce0jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="728"/><figcaption>Photo: TYRE TREASURE</figcaption></figure>From using leaf plates called tapari, and shikakai herbs as shampoo, to reusing bottles and containers in the kitchen, Nepalis have been practicing sustainability for years. But a modern consumer lifestyles have eroded these practices.In order to revive these practices and make people more environmental-friendly, <a href="http://www.wherenwear.com/">Where N Wear</a>, an online ethical brands curator, is hosting<a href="http://www.wherenwear.com/green-sherpa/"> a one-day sustainability fair</a> in Kathmandu this weekend. It is an attempt to turn the culturally-embedded habits of Nepalis into an industrial movement.“In the last few years we have encouraged organisations, businesses and individuals to take a more ethical and eco-conscious route. There is still a long way to go, but we want to showcase what we have accomplished so far,” says co-organiser Ishu Dhakras who manages the online site Where N Wear.Dhakras teamed with Tulja Kedia, who has also worked in marketing various fashion brands and designers in India. The all day event on 18 August Saturday includes:Up-cycling stationCarry a white t-shirt, a black round-neck t-shirt, denim jacket, old jeans, slippers and any other boring and plain clothing you have. The up-cycling booth is there to add a touch of elegance or funk.Do It YourselfA class from experts on planting and upcycling using plastic waste.Le Sucre patisserie and boulangerie will assist in adding toppings to the newest dessert in town -- cakesicles.Sustainable brands boothMore than 15 Nepali brands producing sustainable products, from lifestyle and clothing to recycled tyres, food, drinks and scooter that focus on empowerment, environment, and ethics.Also introducing the new idea of Swapping Buddies: nominate a like-minded person, and swap anything with him or her every three months.Read also: <a href="http://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/Nepali-Times-Buzz/online-designers-open-physical-stores,4120">Online designers get real</a>, Ziyu Lin<figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110714118/636903c39c7e80680e037ce1jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="960"><figcaption>Photo: KARGHA</figcaption></figure>12pm: Creative installationsManish Shrestha and students from Srijana School of Arts and DAV School will showcase art installations on the theme of sustainability.1pm: Panel discussionJournalist Bhrikuti Rai, Knot Craft founder Shyam Badan Shrestha, Director of Sustainability School at Digo Bikas Institute Shail Shrestha, Best Paani founder Sajal Pradhan, Doko Recyclers co-founder Raghavendra Mahto, environmental activist Silsila Acharya, Green Growth representative Samita Kapali, and Niu Scooters CEO Pranayna KC will talk about sustainable lifestyles.2:15pm: Short film screeningThe Rise of Sustainability by Joss Colchester explores how the concept has gone from the fringes to the mainstream within just a few decades. It explores the context of the Anthropocene and the requirement of key economic transformations to achieve sustainability in the age of globalisation.3pm: Panel discussionTV presenter Supriya Shrestha, Sabah Nepal’s designer Bini Bajracharya, sustainable blogger Aditi Mayer, designer Bijay Gautam, entrepreneur Sarita Agarwal, Miss Nepal 2015 Ishani Shrestha and fashion blogger Rhea Pradhan will discuss sustainability in fashion.4pm: Standup comedy<a href="https://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/Nepali-Times-Buzz/Shailee-top-world,3947">Shailee Basnet</a>, a bilingual comedian, will perform a routine that ranges from feminism to current politics and the contrasts of ‘first world’ and ‘third world’. Live musical performance follows.18 August, 11am-6pm, Moksh, Jhamsikhel, 9803537459Read also: <a href="http://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/Nepali-Times-Buzz/pad-power-nepal,4147">Pad Power</a>, Ziyu Lin<a href="https://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/nation/Building,370">Building for tomorrow</a>, Cindrey Liu

Return to nature

Nepali Congress (NC) President Gagan Thapa's candidacy in Sarlahi-4 has thrust this Madhes constituency into rare national focus. If Thapa wins and the NC emerges as the largest party, Sarlahi-4 will send Nepal's next prime minister to Parliament. But if he does not, Nepal’s grand old party will face the next years in the opposition to fight another day. There is a troubling paradox in Sarlahi-4 where the district bordering the Indian state of Bihar has been a battleground for national politicians with fierce electoral competition, all while remaining one of the region's most underserved and underdeveloped constituencies.  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20260305140344_069cbbc11e971a851b444866dee57f760c0cc611ed40bdf96c627e343e3c0485.png" data-media-id="editor_0" data-image-id="20260305140344_069cbbc11e971a851b444866dee57f760c0cc611ed40bdf96c627e343e3c0485" data-rendition-name="original" width="1802" height="1276" loading="lazy" alt="Sarlahi-4 voting"> <figcaption>Photo: MADHES PAHARA MEDIA</figcaption> </figure>  Ever since Mahant Thakur split from NC in 2008 to form the Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party, the district has seen rotating political alliances and fragmented votes. Yet, despite 18 years of candidates promising change irrigation schemes remain incomplete, market access for farmers has not improved, unemployment is high.&nbsp; On election day, voters here marked their ballots with fingers stained by dye from the Holi festival the day before. The road leading to Barathawa Bazar was deserted for the most part, except for some youth riding in motorcycles. This is where the high-profile contest between Gagan Thapa and RSP nominee Amresh Singh is being staged. Among the other aspirants is 27-year-old UML candidate Amnish Yadav, the son of former MP Shiv Pujan Yadav. The Yadavs are a political family with considerable caste influence in the constituency. In 2022 Yadav’s daughter Madhumala Yadav received over 14,000 votes here, ranking third overall. Yadav was voted MP from the Maoist party, but defected to the UML this time. His other son is the chair of Sarlahi’s Ramnagar Rural Municipality. Sarhali-4 has 121,012 voters, and the Yadav is banking on the 27,000-strong Yadav vote bank. Sarlahi-4 voter Avishek Sah told us he wanted his vote to go to a young nominee and not someone who has been MP thrice already, like Amresh Singh. &nbsp;  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20260305140344_527c5c2f9aa6a6c7e3bbdfbfe79fdafb0a0b56a62427e9ced86b924c6c563b10.jpg" data-media-id="editor_1" data-image-id="20260305140344_527c5c2f9aa6a6c7e3bbdfbfe79fdafb0a0b56a62427e9ced86b924c6c563b10" data-rendition-name="original" width="1200" height="1600" loading="lazy" alt="Sarlahi-4 voting"> <figcaption>Photo: AYUSHA CHALISE</figcaption> </figure>  To make local loyalties even more complicated, Amnish Yadav’s uncle, Harinder Yadav is an active NC member and walked side by side with Gagan Thapa during his door-to-door campaigns.&nbsp; The NC is betting on Thapa getting over 60% of the total votes. Amresh Singh’s tally could be limited to 10,000 votes — that too because of the nationwide RSP wave, and the popularity of its prime ministerial hopeful Balendra (Balen) Shah. “Amresh Singh lost his appeal when he played victim after he was denied a ticket by the NC in 2022,” Harinder Yadav says. Voters we spoke to here agreed with this assessment that Singh did not do much for the district once he got elected in the past, and being a part of the RSP seems to be his biggest asset. “The only reason I voted for Amresh Singh is because Balen is in RSP,” local voter Mahendra Gupta from Barathawa. &nbsp;“This is his last chance to return the people’s trust.”&nbsp; Gupta is aware of the institutional presence of the NC here. The party received the most votes in 2022 local elections, adding that the candidacy of someone as high-profile as Thapa is a positive sign for Sarlahi-4.&nbsp; Other voters like Ruby Gupta are rooting for both the NC and the RSP. “I will vote for Gagan and for Balen,” she says, adding that her FPTP vote will go to Thapa while her PR ballot would be for the RSP. RSP supporters are confident that their candidate will win big because even though many voters may not have openly voiced their support they still voted for the party and candidate. The Balen Wave was not limited to RSP voters, but also to UML candidate Yadav, who said in a gathering that he will be “the voters Balen” if they elect him. He touted his party’s track record in government, and largely campaigned on administrative efficiency, infrastructural expansion, and local service delivery. Amresh Singh ran on the RSP’s anti-establishment brand, promising to fight corruption, challenge traditional party politics, improve basic services such as education, health, jobs, and infrastructure, while pushing for stronger representation and development for Madhes.&nbsp;  <figure> <img src="https://publisher-publish.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/pb-nepalitimes/swp/asv65r/media/20260305140344_982df01801fa7d3532ca0555ecb8a0756e3223be3d93650e08ca82a312dc2ebd.jpg" data-media-id="editor_2" data-image-id="20260305140344_982df01801fa7d3532ca0555ecb8a0756e3223be3d93650e08ca82a312dc2ebd" data-rendition-name="original" width="1600" height="1200" loading="lazy" alt="Sarlahi-4 voting"> <figcaption>Photo:AYUSHA CHALISE</figcaption> </figure>  Singh’s rivalry with his NC competitor goes beyond the ballot— he allegedly blames Thapa for being denied the NC ticket in 2022, which led him to win the election from Sarlahi-4 as an independent. &nbsp; For his part, Gagan Thapa focused on a more pragmatic development agenda that includes upgrading roads and irrigation, improving schools and hospitals, supporting farmers, and creating employment opportunities with improved governance at the centre. He also promised to build an engineering college in the constituency.&nbsp; Thapa also promoted his own anti-establishment image within the NC, repeatedly reminding voters on the campaign trail that he represents the aspirations of the youth.&nbsp; On Thursday, as voting progressed, there were violent disruptions in two centres where voting was briefly halted. But Sarlahi district police spokesperson Saroj Rai told Nepali Times that there were no major problems. Police in collaboration with the Nepal Army sent the ballot papers to the district’s counting stations, where the votes are expected to be tallied through the night and the winner announced Friday morning.

Sarlahi-4 nervously watches ballot count

As this report is uploaded, the latest results in Nepal’s election show that the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is headed for an even bigger sweep than most had predicted.
The RSP was leading by large margins in 49 of 165 constituencies, &nbsp;with the UML, NC and NCP trailing far behind. Prominent political figures from the old parties like K P Oli, Minwndra Prasad Rijal, Ishwar Pokhrel, Bishnu Prasad Poudel, Bimalendra Nidhi all seem headed for defeat.
It does look like the RSP’s bell election symbol is ringing right across Nepal — from cities to the remotest districts in the mountains and plains. The party’s blue colour is sweeping the land.
The Nepali people seem to have sent a clear message that they were throughly dissatisfied with the chronic failure of the three main parties to work in the national interest to create jobs and deliver development. It was also an expression of lingering outrage over the the 8 September massacre outside Parliament. &nbsp;
It now looks almost certain that Balendra Shah will get to be Nepal’s next, and youngest, prime minister. Hopefully he will be leading a cabinet of competent and honest technocrats. It remains to seen how the power equation between Shah and the RSP’s leader, Rabi Lamichhane will play out.
Lamichhane is out of jail on bail for fraud cases which he has called political vendetta by the previous regime. Both he and Shah are charismatic and ambitious. Their working relationship will determine Nepal's political stability and whether it can avoid the political cronyism of the past.
This election was not just about casting votes. It was about standing up to principles and a value system, and respecting the hopes and aspirations of Nepal’s youth. It to push for transparent government and against impunity — including for the gunning down of young Nepalis in cold blood.
<div class="embed-block"><iframe src="https://election-geo-dashboard.pages.dev/" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0"> </iframe>Live election results as winners of candidates are announced.</div>
CAN DO MAN
Shah got mixed reviews as mayor. He was impulsive and ad hoc, but most people inKathmandu and beyond liked his can-do attitude and unconventional style which stood in sharp contract to the legacy leaders. Over his three year mayorship he showed more maturity and planning capacity.&nbsp;
But he always ran headlong into opposition from the federal government over his urban planning and other initiatives to make Kathmandu more liveable. Coming from a civil and structural engineering background, he was involved in building low-cost housing after the 2015 earthquake.
But his public persona is more tied to his irreverent rap lyrics that stood up for the marginalised underprivileged in society, while exposing the high-handedness and apathy of the state. But this also exposed contradictions because he also used his own municipal guards to beat and chase away street vendors and squatters.
But there is no doubt that a combination of the sharp messaging in his rap videos amplified by the algorithms of social media ignited Nepal’s youth to rise up. It was more about optics and emotion than policy and strategy.
He studied Kathmandu district for five years, visiting experts in every field before announcing his independent candidacy for mayor in 2022. Many like me in his own constitunecy did not know who he was and where he came from.
He is a year younger than my architect son, and I saw in him a reflection of my own son’s commitment to serving the nation. I voted for him to be mayor despite his sometimes erratic behaviour, which could be attributed to his youth.
The best sign of his strategic planning, which unsettled septuagenarian and octogenarian politicians, is the he did not grab the first easy option of becoming prime minister in September when GenZ activists offered him the post.&nbsp;
Joining RSP was a masterstroke, as was his challenge to Oli in Jhapa to project national branding. He needed a party platform and Lamichhane needed a popular prime ministerial persona since he himself could not hold the post.
Shah has shown the capacity to take risks when he believes the value justifies the action for the country. Now, he will have to show more strategic thinking on a national scale, as well as understand the delicate geopolitics of Nepal.&nbsp;
He must rise above the kind of crude social media posts that earned him followers on X, but did nothing to erase his erratic and impulsive image.&nbsp;
Some assume that behind his trademark RayBan shades is a closet dictator, and his past remarks about Hitler are still up on social media. He has in the past shown impatience with criticism, unleashing supporters on social media to troll detractors.&nbsp;
Even so, the public seems willing to place their hope on an educated young man with integrity and a proven record for planning at the helm. By tomorrow it will be clear whether the hope Nepalis have held has been fulfilled, and the coming years will show if the RSP will lead Nepalis to a better future.
The voters seem to have shown the door even to the NC despite the fact that under Gagan Thapa, the party had turned a new leaf. A strong government under Prime Minister Balendra Shah heading a carefully selected cabinet and a strong opposition of the NC, UML and other parties for check and balance may be just what we need for a stable Nepal.&nbsp;
Nepalis have collectively always shown maturity in elections. This time they have given a resounding endorsement for integrity and for good governance.

Bells ring all over Nepal

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Nepal Election live results

After Thursday’s election, Nepalis are in a wait-and-watch mode. The Election Commission says counting ballot papers will be expedited this time, and the results for the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) will start being declared within days. In 2022, it took three weeks for the final results to be tallied.&nbsp;
But winning an election is only half the challenge for the parties, forming a government under parliamentary politics is like a complicated mathematical equation.&nbsp;
In 2022, the Nepali Congress (NC) emerged as the biggest party, winning 89 seats. But the UML with 78 seats and the Maoists with 32 formed a minority government. In fact, Sher Bahadur Deuba did not become PM then despite leading the biggest party in Parliament.
This time, there is an unmistakeable Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) wave led by its prime ministerial candidate, Balendra Shah. Besides his own popularity, Shah represents change which most Nepalis are clamouring for after decades of corrupt and feckless coalitions that did not deliver.&nbsp;
The past months of campaigning has seen massive youth engagement on social media through memes, AI clips, and viral images. Digital content that appeals to emotion rather than policy debate between candidates shape electoral outcomes in Nepal and elsewhere. &nbsp;
Shah represents GenZ aspirations, and was their candidate for prime minister. It was only when he declined that Sushila Karki was nominated. None of the political parties in the recent past -- new, old, or revolutionary — have won enough seats to go it alone.&nbsp;
The most recent majority government was formed by the short-lived Communist Party of Nepal after the UML-Maoist merger in 2022. But that rare two-thirds majority collapsed after a power struggle between K P Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal. The only party to have won a majority was the NC in the 1991 and 1999 elections. But it is near impossible for it to repeat this success now, even with Gagan Thapa's rebranding of the party.&nbsp;
We have compiled these possible scenarios for election outcome in order of likelihood:
RSP gets a majority
RSP hits the magic 138 to form a government entirely on its own. Balendra Shah wins Jhapa-5, and becomes the new prime minister at 35, the youngest ever to hold the office in Nepal. But danger lurks: there could be a personality clash between Shah and Lamichhane who are both equally ambitious. History could repeat itself.&nbsp;
RSP wins but does not get a majority
RSP is likely to sweep the most votes, but what if it does not secure enough seats for a majority? It would need a coalition partner and Nepali Communist Party (NCP) under Pushpa Kamal Dahal could fit the bill, but only if it has the numbers. The RSP is not likely to team up with the UML or NC.
The NCP is relatively untainted by the 8 September events, and also has former UML defectors like Madhav Kumar Nepal and Bhim Rawal who could bag their rural vote banks. After all, there are no permanent foes in politics. If the royalist RPP and Tarai-based Janata Samajwadi have enough seats, those could be options for the RSP. &nbsp;
NC is second
The NC under the new leadership of Gagan Thapa could become the second biggest force and form a government with RSP in a power-sharing deal with Shah. This would be the most stable scenario since the RSP and NC have competent and idealistic young technocrats. Thapa himself embodies a strong combination of both old and new politics to navigate the system for more efficient government. But then Thapa and the RSP's Rabi Lamichhane do not get along.
NC and NCP form a majority
If the NC becomes the largest party but not by a big margin, it could join up with the NCP and Ujyalo. Teaming up with the UML would likely face backlash with the party and outside. If Gagan Thapa becomes prime minister he will face internal pressure from both Deuba loyalists. Same old story.
Minority coalition of NC, UML and NCP
RSP becomes the first party but does not get a majority, paving the way for the three legacy parties to cobble together a minority government. While this is possible in Nepal’s parliamentary system, such a scenario is likely to lead to more instability and dissatisfaction among young Nepalis demanding change, and even trigger street unrest. &nbsp;

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