Kathmandu [Nepal], March 7 (ANI) — In 2022, structural engineer Balendra “Balen” Shah, known for his black rectangular sunglasses and roots in the underground rap scene, upended Nepal’s political establishment to become Mayor of Kathmandu.
Running as an independent under the walking stick symbol, Balen won 61,767 votes, ahead of Nepali Congress veteran Sirjana Singh with 38,341 and former mayor Keshav Sthapit of CPN-UML with 38,117. Four years later, the 35-year-old has moved from a local sensation to a leading contender to become one of Nepal’s youngest prime ministers.
Balen’s rise was deliberate. After gaining fame in 2013 on the rap battle league Raw Barz, he spent over two years preparing for a political bid. His technical credentials—a degree from Himalayan White House College and a master’s in structural engineering from India—helped him connect with a disillusioned electorate.
His political choices have been strategic. Following protests that left 77 people dead and the resignation of KP Sharma Oli, Gen-Z activists floated Balen for an interim government, but he declined and backed former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, choosing to pursue a full-term national role instead of a six-month interim post.
On January 18, 2026, Balen joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and launched his campaign from Janakpur the next day. He surprised many by contesting Jhapa-05, a long-standing stronghold of KP Sharma Oli, turning the constituency into the epicenter of a political upheaval and eroding Oli’s decades-long dominance in early projections.
Balen maintains a massive digital presence—more than 3.5 million Facebook followers—and often communicates directly online rather than through traditional media. His unfiltered style has sparked controversy: a deleted November post attacked global powers (the US, India, China) and major Nepali parties, including the RSP he later joined. Past incendiary remarks, including threats to “burn down” the Singhadurbar administrative hub, have alarmed critics, while supporters call him an authentic alternative to the entrenched status quo.
Born in 1990 as the youngest of four, Balen’s father, Ram Narayan Shah, was an Ayurvedic practitioner who died shortly before Balen entered mainstream politics. Alongside his political ambitions, Balen is pursuing a PhD in traditional infrastructure at Kathmandu University, blending academic work with technical expertise and populist appeal.
Nepal now faces a crossroads: whether Balen Shah will be a reforming visionary or a disruptive force remains uncertain, but his ascent signals a challenge to the country’s political “Old Guard.” (ANI)
