Rapper-turned-politician Balendra “Balen” Shah is poised to become Nepal’s next prime minister after his party surged ahead in the country’s general election, held just months after massive youth-led protests reshaped the nation’s politics. 

The 35-year-old former rapper and ex-mayor of Kathmandu is leading the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which is heading toward a sweeping victory in early vote counts. The party is far ahead of Nepal’s traditional political forces, including the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (UML). 

The election marks the first national vote since the September 2025 Gen-Z-led protests that forced the resignation of then-prime minister K.P. Sharma Oli. The demonstrations, driven largely by young Nepalis demanding action against corruption and economic stagnation, led to the formation of an interim government that promised elections within six months. 

Shah’s rise reflects a generational shift in Nepalese politics. Known earlier for anti-establishment hip-hop music, he entered politics as an independent and stunned the political establishment in 2022 by winning the Kathmandu mayoral race. His campaign focused on transparency, anti-corruption reforms and better governance. 

Ahead of the 2026 election, Shah joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party and contested the polls as its prime ministerial candidate. Early results showed the party leading in more than 100 constituencies out of 165 directly contested seats in the House of Representatives, putting Shah on course to lead the next government. 

Shah’s popularity has been fuelled largely by younger voters who are frustrated with Nepal’s long-dominant political elite and frequent government changes. Nearly half of the country’s 19 million eligible voters are under the age of 45, giving youth-driven movements significant influence in the election. 

If confirmed, Shah would become one of Nepal’s youngest prime ministers and a symbol of the growing political influence of Gen-Z activists who helped bring down the previous government. (NewsWire) 

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