Who is Balen Shah? Rapper-turned-mayor emerges as PM face in Nepal’s 2026 polls

Balen shah

Regional and emerging political forces in Nepal are consolidating ahead of the March 5 parliamentary elections, with a new alliance led by Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah and the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) seeking to disrupt the dominance of traditional parties that have ruled the country for decades.

Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen, has entered a formal pre-poll agreement with the RSP, headed by former television journalist Rabi Lamichhane. Under the pact, the 35-year-old mayor has been projected as the alliance’s prime ministerial candidate, while Lamichhane will continue as party chairperson.

The deal was finalised after overnight negotiations and allows Shah and his supporters to contest the elections under the RSP’s election symbol, the bell. The party’s name, flag, and symbol will remain unchanged.

Ujyalo Nepal Party merges with RSP

As part of the broader alliance, the Ujyalo Nepal Party (UNP), led by Energy and Water Resources Minister Kulman Ghising, has agreed to merge with the RSP. Ghising will take over as the vice-president of the party.

A joint statement said the alliance has taken “ownership of the movement launched by the younger generation against corruption and bad governance” and pledged to address demands raised during the Gen Z–led protests, including support for those injured in clashes with security forces.

Riding the Gen Z protest wave

The agreement explicitly links the political alliance to the September Gen Z–led protests that swept Kathmandu and other major cities, targeting corruption, political instability and repeated government reshuffles.

The unrest, driven largely by students, young professionals, and first-time voters, culminated in the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and led to the formation of an interim government headed by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, which is currently overseeing the elections.

Political analyst Bipin Adhikari called the tie-up a calculated move. “It is a very smart and strategic decision by the RSP to bring Balen and his young support base into the party,” he said, adding that established parties fear losing younger voters.

The youth vote is seen as crucial

According to Nepal’s Election Commission, nearly 19 million of Nepal’s 30 million citizens are eligible to vote. Around one million new voters—mostly young—were added to the electoral rolls following the September protests.

Shah emerged as a prominent symbol of the agitation and was widely viewed as an undeclared leader of the youth movement, though critics have questioned his limited public appearances during the protests, noting that he primarily communicated through social media.

Who is Balen Shah?

Balendra Shah, widely known as Balen Shah, is a rapper, structural engineer and politician. He first gained popularity in Nepal’s hip-hop scene before entering public life.

Shah studied civil engineering in Nepal and later completed a master’s degree in structural engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University in India, according to reports. He shot to national prominence after winning the Kathmandu mayoral election in 2022 as an independent candidate, defeating nominees of Nepal’s two largest political parties.

Unlike most mayors whose influence remains localised, Shah has attracted national and international attention for his outspoken style and controversial decisions. In June 2023, he temporarily banned the screening of Indian films in Kathmandu over a disputed dialogue in the movie Adipurush.

Rabi Lamichhane and RSP’s rise

Rabi Lamichhane, a former television journalist known for his anti-corruption campaigns, founded the RSP ahead of the 2022 elections. Despite being only six months old at the time, the party emerged as the fourth-largest force in Parliament, winning 21 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives.

Lamichhane is currently out on bail in a case involving the alleged misuse of cooperative funds collected from small depositors.

Traditional parties play down the impact

Nepal’s political landscape has long been dominated by the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), which have alternated in power for much of the past 30 years.