Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah has been sworn in as Nepal's prime minister after a landslide victory in the country's first election since last year's youth-led protests. The 35-year-old's rise marks an important shift in Nepali politics. His promise of change resonated with an electorate that was angry at corruption, nepotism, and elite rule. Before taking office on Friday, Shah, popularly known as Balen, released a song filled with optimism about Nepal's future.
Undivided Nepali, this time history is being made, he rapped in a track that garnered more than two million views within hours of its release. The song harks back to his roots in the underground rap scene, where he used music to call out corruption and other social problems in Nepal.
After just three years as mayor of the capital Kathmandu, Shah teamed up with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) as its prime-ministerial candidate, scoring a decisive victory in general elections this month. His supporters see him as a symbol of change and a break from the failings of Nepal's old guard. But some question whether the four-year-old RSP is capable of making good on its bold pledges.
Shah was born in 1990 in Naradevi, Kathmandu, and is the youngest son in his family. After graduating with engineering degrees in Kathmandu and Karnataka, India, he shot to fame in 2013 after winning a popular rap battle in Nepal. His raps criticized corruption and social inequality, earning significant attention.
In 2022, he won Kathmandu's mayoral race by a landslide as an independent candidate, marking a shift against long-dominant political parties. His tenure as mayor focused on cleaning up the city and a crackdown on corruption, but faced criticism from rights groups for heavy-handed strategies.
Shah’s campaign this year utilized social media rather than traditional interviews, pledging to tackle corruption, implement judiciary reforms, and create jobs, ultimately leading to a sweeping victory in the elections. However, his administration will face immense challenges including the economy's stagnation and high unemployment, along with the high expectations of voters demanding real change.
Undivided Nepali, this time history is being made, he rapped in a track that garnered more than two million views within hours of its release. The song harks back to his roots in the underground rap scene, where he used music to call out corruption and other social problems in Nepal.
After just three years as mayor of the capital Kathmandu, Shah teamed up with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) as its prime-ministerial candidate, scoring a decisive victory in general elections this month. His supporters see him as a symbol of change and a break from the failings of Nepal's old guard. But some question whether the four-year-old RSP is capable of making good on its bold pledges.
Shah was born in 1990 in Naradevi, Kathmandu, and is the youngest son in his family. After graduating with engineering degrees in Kathmandu and Karnataka, India, he shot to fame in 2013 after winning a popular rap battle in Nepal. His raps criticized corruption and social inequality, earning significant attention.
In 2022, he won Kathmandu's mayoral race by a landslide as an independent candidate, marking a shift against long-dominant political parties. His tenure as mayor focused on cleaning up the city and a crackdown on corruption, but faced criticism from rights groups for heavy-handed strategies.
Shah’s campaign this year utilized social media rather than traditional interviews, pledging to tackle corruption, implement judiciary reforms, and create jobs, ultimately leading to a sweeping victory in the elections. However, his administration will face immense challenges including the economy's stagnation and high unemployment, along with the high expectations of voters demanding real change.
