A dramatic political shift in Nepal is drawing close attention in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated leaders of the Rastriya Swatantra Party after their stunning electoral performance, including rising political figure Balendra Shah. The party’s surge in both direct and proportional voting could give it around 164 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives of Nepal, comfortably above the majority mark. This victory signals the decline of traditional parties and the rise of a new generation in Nepal’s politics. For India, the implications are significant. The two countries share a 1,800-kilometre open border, deep economic ties and centuries-old cultural links. Yet recent years have seen tensions over issues such as Kalapani, Lipulekh Pass and Limpiyadhura. As Balen Shah’s “Nepal First” politics gains momentum, New Delhi must navigate a new diplomatic landscape while ensuring that India-Nepal ties continue to move toward stability and strategic cooperation.