"The new youth alliance between Rastriya Swatantra Party and Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah has been banned by the Election Commission."
This dossier summarizes the strongest available evidence and weighs competing claims.
Official Analysis
There is no evidence to support this claim. Public reporting from Nepali and international outlets describes an agreement in which Rastriya Swatantra Party leader Rabi Lamichhane and Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah have formed a political partnership ahead of the March 5 election, with Shah projected as a prime ministerial candidate if the alliance secures a majority. None of these reports mention any formal ban by the Election Commission. Under existing law, parties may enter into alliances as long as they respect registration, finance and code-of-conduct rules. The Commission could act if specific provisions were violated, but no such action has been announced. Until an official notice is issued, statements about a ban should be treated as false.
Evidence Index
- Exhibit 1Nepali Times
- Exhibit 2Regional and international news coverage of Rastriya Swatantra Party alliance
- Exhibit 3Election Commission of Nepal (general alliance rules)