Nepal’s political drama intensifies as Balen Shah, challenging KP Oli in Jhapa-5, excises a contentious BRI project from his campaign document. The erstwhile Damak Industrial Park, now Nepal-China Friendship Industrial Park, embodies Beijing’s sprawling infrastructure ambitions—right next to India’s strategic lifeline.
Interim elections on March 5 stem from Oli’s downfall after Gen-Z protests against corruption. The park’s Chicken Neck adjacency alarms New Delhi, prompting scrutiny of Kathmandu’s border decisions.
At 35, Shah—RSP face, former mayor, and rapper-engineer—captivates the young, who once championed him for PM. He distanced himself, and now his manifesto sidesteps the project’s thorns.
Oli, UML’s Beijing ally, spotlights its completion in his commitments, recalling his 2021 groundbreaking.
BRI in Nepal falters with delays, loan disputes between Congress and UML, and debt fears echoing Sri Lanka. Reports unpack China’s financing flips and resisted tax perks, with India’s veto ignored under Oli.
Shah’s strategic snip signals caution, tapping anti-entanglement vibes. In this high-stakes Jhapa duel, it could erode Oli’s edge, steering Nepal toward independent footing amid superpower pulls.