Former Rapper Turned Mayor Set to Become Nepal’s Prime Minister

Balendra Shah, known as Balen, transformed from structural engineer to rap artist to Kathmandu mayor before his party's landslide parliamentary victory. The 35-year-old political newcomer is positioned to lead Nepal after youth-led protests brought down the previous government. His rise represents a dramatic shift away from the country's traditional political establishment.

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — A former structural engineer who gained recognition as a rapper and later served as Kathmandu’s mayor is now set to lead Nepal as prime minister following his party’s commanding victory in recent parliamentary elections.

Balendra Shah, commonly called Balen, heads the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which secured approximately two-thirds of the 275 seats in parliament’s influential lower chamber, the House of Representatives.

This marks the first occasion in numerous years that any single political party in Nepal has achieved such a dominant majority.

Party members elected Shah as their leader Thursday, and the president is expected to formally name him prime minister and conduct his swearing-in ceremony Friday.

The electoral triumph places the 35-year-old political newcomer in position to address widespread public dissatisfaction with Nepal’s traditional political parties, which citizens widely criticized for corrupt practices and ongoing governmental instability.

Shah’s political emergence represents a significant transformation in Nepal’s political landscape following youth-driven demonstrations that brought down the former administration last year.

Political experts suggest his strong electoral mandate may provide opportunities to implement meaningful changes, though his lack of national leadership experience and the challenge of meeting supporter expectations could prove difficult in coming months.

“Balen Shah does not have the experience of government operation and lacks the complex knowledge of running the state,” said Hari Bahadur Thapa, a Kathmandu-based author who has written extensively on corruption and governance.

However, Thapa noted that Shah might advantage from a diminished opposition. With nearly two-thirds of legislators supporting his party, he may find it simpler to advance bills through parliament and implement reforms, Thapa explained.

Shah gained national attention as Kathmandu’s mayor after securing the position as an independent candidate in 2022. He subsequently joined the RSP and rapidly became its prime ministerial nominee, presenting himself as an option distinct from two other leading figures from competing parties.

Shah mounted a direct challenge against former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli in a southeastern district and prevailed decisively, an outcome many interpreted as evidence of voter dissatisfaction with the nation’s established political hierarchy.

During his tenure as Kathmandu’s mayor, Shah earned recognition for addressing the capital city’s waste management problems, removing unauthorized street merchants, and promoting road construction projects, although detractors criticized him for tearing down residences and commercial properties without sufficient planning or advance warning.

Prior to his political career, Shah studied structural engineering and achieved moderate recognition as a rap performer, frequently incorporating criticism of corruption and social inequality into his musical work.

His song “Nepal Smiling” gained widespread circulation on Instagram and TikTok platforms. The track begins with children’s voices singing: “I want to see Nepal laugh.” Shah then contributes verses envisioning a more equitable nation. “May the country be a beautiful garden,” he sings.

In a different song titled “Sacrifice,” his message becomes more confrontational. “All the people who defend the country are idiots. All leaders are thieves … plundering the country,” he raps.

Shah also became a notable figure during the violent youth-driven uprising in September that removed the government in this nation of 30 million residents, a period of civil unrest that resulted in dozens of fatalities.

While he didn’t participate directly in the demonstrations, he publicly supported the primarily Generation Z activists who spearheaded the movement.

As tensions escalated, he advocated for peaceful approaches and moderation, requesting order to avoid additional bloodshed. Subsequently, he endorsed discussions that contributed to establishing an interim administration.

Frequently appearing in black clothing and dark sunglasses, Shah seldom delivered traditional campaign speeches and communicated with supporters primarily via social media platforms. His campaign focused on economic restructuring, including commitments to improve educational and healthcare access for Nepal’s less affluent citizens.

Whether Shah can transform his popularity into successful governance remains questionable, as critics point out his governmental experience extends only to managing Kathmandu.

For numerous supporters, though, his political advancement already symbolizes a departure from Nepal’s traditional political system.

“Finally we have a young, good and clean leader,” said Susil Singh, an office worker.

Singh expressed hope that Shah would control corruption and provide justice for those killed during the previous year’s demonstrations.

“He asked us for our support and we gave him our votes. Now he is going to bring the country back on track,” Singh said.