Will Balendra Shah be Nepal's next PM? All about 35-year-old Kathmandu mayor who banned Indian films

Before joining politics, Balen Shah was a popular name Nepal's underground hip-hop scene as a rapper and lyricist and was known for his songs raising issues about corruption and inequality in Nepal.

As Nepal grapples with a political vacuum following two big resignations -- first of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and then President Ramchandra Paudel, a new figure has emerged as a potential leader for a generation of disillusioned youth. Balendra Shah, popularly known as "Balen," the 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician and current mayor of Kathmandu has become a symbol of change for "Gen Z" protesters who are demanding an end to systemic corruption and traditional party politics.

Over the past two days, protests in Kathmandu escalated quickly into violence and the storming of government buildings. The Nepal Army announced that it was taking charge of security operations in the country from Tuesday night. The student-led “Gen Z” protests in Nepal, which began in response to a government ban on social media, expanded into a larger campaign reflecting growing public criticism of the KP Sharma Oli dispensation and the country’s political elite over allegations of corruption and apathy towards the common people.

Amid the deadly protests that killed at least 19 people and injured around 500 others, Balendra Shah expressed solidarity with the Gen Z protesters. In a Facebook post, the Kathmandu mayor said he could not attend due to the 28-year-old age cap set by organisers. However, he said it was necessary to hear the protesters' voices.

Engineer, rapper and Mayor: Who is Balendra Shah?

Born in 1990 in Kathmandu, Balen is currently the mayor of the metropolitan city. He has studied civil engineering in Nepal, and holds a master's degree in structural engineering from India's Visvesvaraya Technological University, NDTV reported. Shah has, in the past, actively worked as a rapper in lyricist in Nepal's hip-hop scene, and included social issues like inequality and corruption in his music. He contested the mayoral elections in Kathmandu in 2022 as an independent candidate, securing a victory with more than 61,000 votes.

Before joining politics, Balen Shah was a popular name Nepal's underground hip-hop scene as a rapper and lyricist and was known for his songs raising issues about corruption and inequality in Nepal.

The man backed by Gen Z protestors

Shah, who stood in support of the Gen Z protestors, started trending after the government rolled back the ban on social media platforms. Several users on social media said that Balen represented the “voice of a new generation”, adding that he would work for the “good of the country without personal interest.”

“Dear Balen, the time is now…Please step forward and take lead. Whole Nepal is with you,” a user said on X. Another said that if Balen does become the next prime minister, it would mark a “generational shift”. “From mayor to national leader, his anti-corruption image and student support make him the natural face of this movement. Nepal could be witnessing the birth of a new political era,” the user added.