KATHMANDU, March 7, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Nepal's rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah held an unassailable lead against ousted prime minister KP Sharma Oli in the highly contested face-off in Nepal's southeastern district of Jhapa, according to data by the Election Commission.

Shah led with more than 47,500 votes, with Oli trailing behind on 12,600.

With about 70 percent of votes counted, AFP calculations show Shah has passed the winning threshold.