Former Rapper Turned Mayor Leads Race for Nepal Prime Minister

A 35-year-old musician who became mayor of Nepal's capital after criticizing the government through rap songs is now the frontrunner to become the country's next prime minister. Balendra Shah, known as 'Balen,' rose to prominence following deadly youth protests that forced the previous leader to resign.

A former rapper who transitioned from music to politics is positioned to become Nepal’s next prime minister, marking a dramatic shift in the Himalayan nation’s political landscape.

Balendra Shah, widely recognized by his stage name ‘Balen,’ emerged as the leading candidate following Nepal’s youth uprising in September that resulted in 77 deaths and led to Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s resignation. The 35-year-old politician addressed his millions of social media followers with a direct message at the time.

“Dear Gen Z, the resignation of your killer has come,” Shah posted. “Now your generation will have to lead the country. Be prepared.”

The musician-turned-politician, who secured the mayor’s office in Nepal’s capital city Kathmandu during 2022, now leads polling projections for the March 5 general election. While Nepal lacks comprehensive polling data, four political experts and regional media outlets identify him as the top contender, potentially displacing the nation’s established political leadership.

“Balen Shah is so popular that now buses coming to Kathmandu have stickers on them saying, ‘Headed to Balen’s city’,” noted Bipin Adhikari, who specializes in constitutional law at Kathmandu University.

Shah’s potential victory would represent a remarkable transformation for someone who gained initial recognition through rap music that challenged Nepal’s power structure. His success could fundamentally alter the political dynamics of the small nation situated between China and India, which has traditionally been controlled by a few dominant parties.

The established parties include Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), which maintains closer ties to China, and the moderate Nepali Congress, which aligns more closely with India.

Shah’s Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) represents a centrist alternative that promises in its platform to pursue “balanced foreign relations” with both neighboring powers.

Much of Shah’s national popularity stems from his achievements as Kathmandu’s mayor, where he concentrated on enhancing city infrastructure, particularly waste management systems, while improving service delivery in areas like healthcare.

However, he has also drawn criticism, including from Human Rights Watch, for allegedly directing police to confiscate property belonging to street vendors and individuals without land ownership.

Shah, who stepped down from his mayoral position in January to pursue the national election, has not responded to interview requests or written questions from Reuters.

Distinguishing himself from Nepal’s traditional political establishment of older career politicians, Shah typically avoids conventional media outlets.

His extensive social media reach, encompassing more than 3.5 million followers across platforms like Facebook, allows him to communicate directly with Nepal’s younger population.

Shah’s recent Facebook activity features carefully selected campaign photographs, consistently showing him wearing his signature dark sunglasses and sporting a graying beard.

“What makes Balen special is that he stays connected with the youth through his short messages on social media, but it would not be a cakewalk for him after becoming prime minister,” observed independent political analyst Puranjan Acharya.

Shah grew up with a father who practiced traditional Ayurvedic medicine and a mother who managed their household. According to an associate, he developed an early interest in poetry that eventually led to his passion for rap music, drawing inspiration from American artists including Tupac Shakur and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.

Following his undergraduate civil engineering studies in Nepal, Shah pursued a master’s degree in structural engineering in southern India, having already established himself as a prominent rapper in his homeland.

His musical compositions, frequently targeting Nepal’s governing elite, resonated strongly with citizens in a nation where approximately 20% of the 30 million residents experience severe poverty.

Shah’s 2019 release “Balidan” – meaning sacrifice in Nepali – has accumulated over 12 million YouTube views and remains among his most recognized works.

The song’s verses include: “Let me speak, sir, it is not a crime, Let me open the mind, I am not a curse to the palace, My mind is not bad, it is not afraid to speak the truth.”

Shah officially entered political life by running as an independent candidate for Kathmandu mayor, campaigning under the motto “Time for change.” He secured victory with a substantial margin.

In December, Shah aligned with the RSP, headed by former television personality Rabi Lamichhane, accepting the party’s nomination for prime minister.

The RSP’s platform commits to generating 1.2 million employment opportunities and reducing forced migration, addressing widespread frustration over joblessness and inadequate wages that have driven millions of Nepalis to seek employment abroad.

Additional party promises include increasing Nepal’s per capita income from $1,447 to $3,000, expanding the national economy to $100 billion GDP, and establishing universal healthcare coverage – all targeted for completion within five years.

Political observers suggest that Shah’s potential national success will largely depend on his ability to assemble qualified personnel capable of reforming Nepal’s stagnant and corruption-plagued administrative structure.

“It needs a team, experts and support,” Acharya explained. “Under the existing state apparatus, he can’t perform and he will be finished like wood attacked by termites.”