Nepal’s rapper-turned-mayor Balendra Shah is preparing for the most significant political battle of his career, mounting a direct challenge to veteran leader KP Sharma Oli in the former prime minister’s own parliamentary constituency.
Known widely as Balen, the sharply dressed 35-year-old has become a symbol of youth-driven political change after backing mass anti-corruption protests that toppled Oli’s Marxist-led government last year.
Born in Kathmandu in 1990, Shah came of age during Nepal’s decade-long Maoist insurgency from 1996 to 2006, a conflict that killed thousands and ultimately led to the abolition of the monarchy.
Trained as a civil engineer, he first gained national attention through Nepal’s underground hip-hop scene, releasing music that sharply criticised corruption and inequality.
Those themes, Shah says, continue to guide his politics as he campaigns ahead of the March 5 general elections in the Himalayan nation of around 30 million people.
“If someone involved in politics also engages in literature or music, it becomes emotionally driven,” Shah told AFP during his campaign.
“We need to nurture the emotional side of our lives, and a politician should have that sensitivity,” he said.
His music, which has attracted millions of views online, helped him build a loyal following on social media — platforms he continues to favour over traditional media outlets to communicate directly with supporters.
That popularity translated into a political upset in 2022, when Shah became the first independent candidate elected mayor of Kathmandu, delivering a shock to Nepal’s long-established political elite.
As mayor, he developed a reputation as a blunt and sometimes confrontational reformer, launching campaigns against tax evasion, traffic congestion and waste mismanagement.
However, his tenure also drew criticism for heavy-handed enforcement tactics and for sidelining journalists in favour of direct online broadcasts to his followers.
Social justice
In January, Shah resigned as mayor to contest the general election — the first since nationwide protests last September brought down Oli, a 73-year-old Marxist leader who has served as prime minister four times.
Rather than contesting a seat in Kathmandu, Shah opted to take on Oli directly in Jhapa-5, a largely rural constituency about 300 kilometres south-east of the capital.
“Challenging a major political figure shows that I am not taking the easy route,” Shah said.
“It demonstrates that despite the problems and betrayals that have affected the country, we are moving towards solutions.”
In December, Shah joined the centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by former television presenter Rabi Lamichhane.
The RSP emerged as parliament’s fourth-largest party in the 2022 elections, disrupting the dominance of traditional parties that have ruled Nepal since the end of the civil war.
If the party secures a parliamentary majority, Shah would be in line to become prime minister.
“We share the same ideology,” Shah said, outlining a vision of a “liberal economic system with social justice”, including free education and healthcare for the poor.
Shah rose to prominence during the September protests, initially sparked by public anger over a brief ban on social media platforms and loosely organised under a “Gen Z” banner.
The demonstrations quickly evolved into a wider movement against corruption and economic stagnation. At least 77 people were killed during the unrest.
“Gen Z’s primary demand is good governance, because corruption levels in the country are extremely high,” Shah said.
Despite his growing political ambitions, Shah insists music will remain central to his identity.
“Music is a way to express oneself,” he said. “I will continue it, even if I am elected prime minister.”
