The campaign that swept aside Nepal's established political heavyweights and brought 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah to the cusp of power emerged out

Nepal is counting votes after its first national election since a violent youth uprising toppled the government.

Vote counting for Nepal's general elections commenced following significant protests that led to the ousting of KP Oli's government. The elections, which took place with a 60 per cent voter turnout, featured key parties like CPN-UML,

Balendra Shah – the former Kathmandu mayor widely known as Balen – has surged ahead of 74-year-old communist leader K.P. Sharma Oli in a race for a seat in Nepal’s House of Representatives in the eastern district of Jhapa, election commission data showed on Saturday.

Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen, holds huge lead over ousted prime minister K.P. Sharma Oli in his home constituency - Anadolu Ajansı

Some 800,000 Nepalis have left the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal's most populated region, for their hometowns over the past week to vote in tomorrow's election, authorities say.

Nepal on Thursday held its first election since a youth-led uprising against corruption toppled the government last year.