Balen Shah is emerging as a major political force in Jhapa-5, with a growing wave of youth support and high-profile defections from both the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML reshaping the constituency’s electoral landscape. Once considered a stronghold of KP Sharma Oli and the UML, Jhapa has seen rapid ground-level shifts since Shah entered the race, as young voters and local leaders signal a clear demand for credible leadership and political change.
Senior Leaders Begin Leaving Major Parties
Not only ordinary citizens and young voters, but leaders holding senior positions in both the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML have begun leaving their parties to support Balen Shah.
Following the confirmation of Balen Shah’s candidacy after filing his nomination, Nepali Congress Damak Municipal Chair Prakash Prasai joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), declaring his support for Shah. This move was widely viewed as politically significant.
Soon after, another major development followed. The chairperson, vice-chairperson, and secretary of the Damak Municipal Committee of the UML-affiliated Youth Association—considered one of the most influential forces at the grassroots level during elections—resigned from the UML and aligned themselves with Balen Shah.
Damak’s Shift Carries Strong Electoral Meaning
Damak, known as the heart of Jhapa-5 and often described as a UML stronghold, has now seen leaders from youth organizations and municipal committees of both the Congress and UML openly stand in support of Balen Shah. This carries deep political meaning.
In elections, nearly 80 percent of voter sentiment at the village and neighborhood level is shaped by local leaders and community influencers. Therefore, when leaders holding such vital local positions leave major parties to back an alternative candidate, it must be taken seriously.
Support Expands Beyond Damak
The trend is not limited to Damak alone. In Kamal Rural Municipality, Nepali Congress local secretary Mahendra Budhathoki has also joined the RSP. Through social media, Budhathoki announced his resignation from both his post and his general membership in the Nepali Congress, effective immediately.
Election Outlook in Jhapa-5 Grows Tighter
Considering these developments, winning the March 5 election is becoming increasingly difficult for KP Sharma Oli. This is only the second day of the campaign, with about six weeks still remaining before voting day. How many more leaders may leave the UML and the Nepali Congress during this period remains uncertain.
Balen Shah’s rapid momentum from the very first days of the campaign, combined with visible youth rebellion within traditional parties, has created a strong impression that Jhapa-5 may be preparing for a change in representation.
Currently, two former Congress leaders and three former UML leaders have joined Shah’s side, each capable of mobilizing significant local support. If youths in other municipalities also begin to act on their political awareness, the election outcome may become predictable even before voting day.
UML Intensifies Campaign Efforts
As this atmosphere develops, the UML has also mobilized its full strength. Party chair KP Sharma Oli has increased meetings with grassroots workers, expressing strong confidence that he will secure victory by a margin of more than 30 percent in the upcoming election.
A Clear Message from the Youth
The youth-led rebellion emerging from Jhapa-5 sends a clear message: today’s young generation is politically aware and firmly in favor of change. They are no longer willing to applaud leaders uncritically. If their own leaders or parties act wrongly, they are prepared to question them—and, if necessary, rebel.
This principle has long been central to the mission of Khoj Samachar, which has consistently encouraged youth awareness over the past three years. Young people support good work and challenge wrongdoing, regardless of party affiliation, because they do not see themselves as anyone’s followers—but as conscious citizens.
Accountability Must Continue for All
While many youths have now left the UML and Congress to support RSP and Balen Shah, one responsibility must not be forgotten. If RSP or Balen Shah themselves act wrongly in the future, these same youths must have the courage to hold them accountable without hesitation.
Only then can political parties and leaders be guided onto the right path. Otherwise, merely switching parties will serve no purpose. Power often brings arrogance, and the only effective remedy against that arrogance is continuous scrutiny by informed citizens.
Call for Nationwide Youth Awakening
The political rebellion that began in Jhapa-5 must now spread across the country. Young people everywhere must tell their leaders: reform yourselves or step aside. The youth are ready to build the nation—not to serve blindly.
