New Delhi [India], March 30 (ANI): South Asian politics is undergoing a major shift as traditional “legacy” parties give way to populist, youth-led movements, exemplified by the rise of Balendra Shah (Balen) in Nepal.
Middle East expert Waiel Awwad said these changes are becoming pronounced across the region, noting that a rapper has become Nepal’s prime minister. Awwad expressed hope Shah would address pressing issues such as unemployment, warning that failure to deliver could lead to catastrophe given high joblessness.
“Well, I think there are new changes in South Asia. Now we can see a rapper become the prime minister, and the traditional parties are losing the elections. And now, especially at this juncture where there is a rise of the, you know, foods and inflation and unemployment and with LPG shortage, I think this is going to be more of a social disobedience for the people to come out in the street and show their anger about the current situation. And I hope that he will be able to deliver, otherwise Nepal will be facing a catastrophe, especially with the as I said with the unemployment rate being very high,” he said.
On March 27, 2026, 35-year-old structural engineer and rap star Balendra Shah was sworn in as Nepal’s youngest prime minister. His Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) won a commanding mandate—182 of 275 seats—in the March 5 elections, ending decades of dominance by veterans like K.P. Sharma Oli and Sher Bahadur Deuba. Shah’s ascent followed intense late-2025 anti-corruption protests led by young activists who used social media to bypass traditional party structures.
The regional churn reflects deep fatigue with political dynasties and leaders accused of elitism and corruption. Bangladesh and the Maldives have also seen shifts driven by digital mobilisation and economic impatience. After the Awami League fell in 2024, Bangladesh’s February elections elevated the student-formed National Citizen Party (NCP); while the BNP remains influential, debates now focus more on institutional reform than partisan loyalty. In the Maldives, the Gen Z “Dhuleh Nukuraanan” movement has pressured the Muizzu administration for transparency and better living standards, showing that even newer governments face youth scrutiny.
Platforms like TikTok, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) have replaced traditional rallies as primary battlegrounds. High youth unemployment and inflation across the subcontinent have reduced tolerance for incremental change, pushing younger voters to back outsider candidates with technical or unconventional backgrounds. (ANI)
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