KATHMANDU, March 5 (Reuters) - Polls in Nepal's general election closed on Thursday evening as ⁠the ⁠Himalayan nation gets ready to elect a new ⁠parliament nearly six months after the deaths of 77 people in a crackdown on youth-led protests forced its then prime ​minister to quit.

Gen Z-led protests on September 8-9 last year, demanded an end to corruption, nepotism and stale leadership, ultimately toppling PM KP Sharma Oli's coalition despite its near two-thirds majority.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), formed by rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, headed towards a sweeping victory in Nepal's first general elections since the violent Gen Z protests, shattering the dominance of established political parties in the politically fragile nation.

India remains steadfast in its commitment to working closely with the people of Nepal and their new Government, PM Modi said

A newcomer party with rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah as its main candidate is heading toward a landslide victory in Nepal's general elections, early results showed on Friday. Shah's party

Rabi Lamichhane Biography: Rabi Lamichhane, a former television presenter, has emerged as a significant political figure in Nepal. He founded the Rastriya Swatantra Party, attracting many young voters with promises of political reform and change.

To mark International Women’s Day, BBC Media Action in Nepal has launched a social media campaign celebrating women entrepreneurs