![[FILE] Nepalese Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli (3-L) and Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah (3-R) take part in celebrations during the Indra Jatra festival at the Basantapur Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal, 06 September 2025. EFE-EPA/NARENDRA SHRESTHA](https://i0.wp.com/efe.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/rss-efe428665e9d044febe8b3bae29d68dde1cf11860c8w.webp?fit=1920%2C1281&ssl=1)
Kathmandu, Mar 3 (EFE).- Balendra Shah, better known as Balen Shah, rose to fame as a rapper railing against corruption and political decay.
Now, at 35, he stands on the brink of potentially becoming Nepal’s next prime minister in the general elections scheduled for Mar. 5, a remarkable transformation from music icon to national contender.
Until 2013, Shah was virtually unknown.
His breakthrough in Nepal’s hip-hop scene propelled him into the public spotlight, as his politically charged lyrics resonated with disillusioned young voters.
In “Balidan,” one of his most iconic songs, he lashed out at the political class: “All those who protect the country are idiots. All leaders are thieves, plundering and devouring the country.”
Nearly a decade later, in May 2022, Shah delivered a political shock by winning the Kathmandu mayoralty as an independent candidate, defeating established party figures and positioning himself as a symbol of change.
From Rapper to Voice of Generation Z
Through songs addressing corruption, inequality and political stagnation, Shah became an emblem of Nepal’s Generation Z.
That same wave of youth activism culminated in mass protests in September 2025, forcing the resignation of then Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, who is now again contesting for the top job.
Following the youth-led uprising, Shah’s name circulated as a potential head of an interim government.
Ultimately, however, protesters backed former Supreme Court chief justice Sushila Karki to lead the provisional administration.
In the upcoming vote, Shah is running under the banner of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), a centrist formation founded less than four years ago. The party secured 10 percent of the national vote in 2022 and is now seeking to expand its influence.
Shishir Kanal, who led dialogue efforts between the RSP and Shah, previously told EFE that talks with the former mayor’s team began after the success of the youth protests that brought the country to a standstill.
The alliance has pledged to tackle corruption and poor governance, key demands of the youth movement, and to address the grievances of victims and families affected during the 2025 unrest, when at least 77 people were killed.
It has also outlined an ambitious roadmap aimed at transforming Nepal into a middle-income country within a decade through political, institutional and structural reforms, with a focus on economic growth and social justice.
A ‘Rockstar’ Campaign Finale
Shah’s campaign has retained the energy of his music career. On Monday, he closed his campaign in dramatic fashion, standing atop a red car that struggled to inch through a sea of supporters chanting his name.
Videos of the event quickly went viral on social media, encapsulating the enthusiasm surrounding his candidacy as Nepal entered the mandatory two-day pre-election silence period.
After the rally, Shah bid farewell to supporters in a Facebook post: “Good luck, Nepal. My best wishes for my country,” he wrote, a message delivered just days before voters decide whether the former rapper will take the helm of the nation. EFE
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