Nepal has entered a new political era as Balendra Shah, widely known as Balen, took oath as the country’s new prime minister. At just 35, the former rapper‑turned‑engineer has risen to the nation’s highest office after his party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), secured a landslide victory in the March elections, the first since last year’s youth‑led uprising toppled the previous government.
Hours before his swearing‑in on March 27, Shah released a new song reflecting his vision for Nepal’s future, a nod to his roots in the underground hip‑hop scene.
Before entering politics, he was known for writing socially charged tracks on corruption and inequality themes that later shaped his political identity.
Shah first stunned Nepal’s political establishment in 2022 when he ran as an independent candidate for mayor of Kathmandu, defeating major party contenders by more than 61,000 votes.
His three‑year tenure as mayor made him a youth icon, admired for his outspoken stance on governance and reform.
Born in Kathmandu in 1990, Shah studied civil engineering and later earned a master’s degree in structural engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University in India. His rapid political rise was fuelled by widespread frustration among young Nepalis.
That anger exploded last September when then‑prime minister K.P. Sharma Oli abruptly shut down Facebook and all social media platforms, triggering mass protests that brought down his government within a week.
With Shah’s swearing‑in, Nepal now steps into a new chapter one shaped by the expectations of a generation demanding transparency, accountability and bold reform.
Many young voters believe he can set a new standard in governance, particularly in the fight against corruption and bureaucratic stagnation.
For now, the nation watches closely as the rapper‑turned‑reformer takes the helm, carrying the hopes of millions eager for change.
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