Who is Mayor Balen Shah, former rapper & engineer, whom Gen Z protesters want as Nepal PM

Balen Shah (Image courtesy: The Himalayan Times)

With Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli forced to resign from the post on Tuesday, the country’s Gen Z population heralding the protest against corruption and nepotism triggered by social media ban of at least 26 sites, are pinning their hopes on Mayor Balen Shah.

An editorial in the Nepalese daily The Himalaya Times note, "The people who are leading today's agitation are clearly saying, ‘Come Balen, save us from this crisis'."

The editoral further notes, "Just as the leadership chosen by the contemporary movement was established after the changes of 1990 and 2006, today's movement must also choose its own leader," in a reference to Balen Shah.

The protest which took a violent turn on Monday has so far seen at least 21 people losing their lives with over 345 injured across Nepal. According to reports, hospitals were swamped with volunteers queuing up to donate blood to blood banks.

It is being said that this protest has "swept away old ways of doing things" and "after the brutalities of the past few days, the country must be guided on the path to peace, dialogue, and cooperation."

Echoing the demands of protesters, the editorial says that a "roadmap should ensure the security of citizens’ lives and that the state does not use force against citizens".

Supporting "Balen, as the leader of the new generation", it said that the country should undergo elections through a new transitional government.

Who is Balen Shah, rapper-turned-engineer-turned mayor?

Balendra Shah, better known as Balen, is a rapper-turned-engineer-turned-mayor who quickly become one of the most popular public personalities in Nepal.

As the editorial notes, his visibility in the public perception is rooted in the Nepalese youth's anger over corruption and censorship, frustration with worn-out politics and a quest to find someone who understands their exhaustion and is skilled in governance.

Balen Shah's identity both as a rapper and engineer has earned him a reputation as a cultural and intellectual figure. He became a household name among young Nepalis with his sharp verses and freestyle takedowns in Kathmandu’s underground rap battles. Simultaneously, he pursued civil and structural engineering.

Running as an independent candidate in 2022, he became the mayor of Kathmandu defeating Nepal’s prominent political parties. In his campaign, he spoke about issues which had vanished from the public discourse by the existing leaders. The issues focussed on garbage collection, traffic chaos, illegal construction, and urban mismanagement.

The fact that he won against major parties was a turning point in Nepal politics and had a message that an individual without any backing of a party can challenge power and win.

Balen Shah’s working style and appeal

After assuming office, Balen has opted for methods which are unusual from the existing governance models. He broadcast city meetings live, used bulldozers to demolish illegal buildings, and confronted municipal officials accused of neglecting their duties.

It is reported that his working style has resonated with the young population who have shown overwhelming preference for him compared to older leaders in recent youth surveys.

As Nepal's Gen Z population have been witnessing a series of disturbed and dismantled governments, they forced veteran politician KP Sharma Oli to resign from the post of PM.

When the Oli government announced bans on major social media platforms, claiming security concerns and non-compliance to regulations, the youth saw it not just as an attack on their freedom but also corruption and nepotism becoming the order of the day in the country.

As they protested in which at least 21 people were killed as on Tuesday, Balen openly supported them saying, “My full sympathy is with the youth,” and asking political leaders not to take part in the agitation for personal or party gains.

Oli is known to have wrecked many governments in the past and had kindled hopes for much-needed political stability in Nepal when he assumed power for the third time in 2024, but that proved to be short-lived due to his own actions.

The 73-year-old leader's ouster has once again pushed Nepal, which has had 14 governments in the last 17 years, into political instability.

He came to power in July 2024 after he ditched his one-time friend Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and joined hands with his foe-turned-friend Sher Bahadur Deuba, who was leading the largest party - Nepali Congress - in the House of Representatives.

Oli, the CPN-UML Chairman, defended his party's decision to ditch 'Prachanda' and form a coalition government with the Nepali Congress, saying it was required for maintaining political stability and development of the country.

However, the young population has been living in a turbulent era, which is marred by civil war and its impact, constant government changes, and rising unemployment.

After the government rolled back the social media ban on Monday night, outrage spread to online platforms and Balen Shah quickly became a trending figure, with protesters writing, “Balen Dai, take the lead,” and demanding him to become the country’s next Prime Minister.

"The difference between Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal is that we have a potential prime minister among us who will work only for the good of the country without personal interest. Balen for PM lessgoo,” one user wrote.