Rapper Balendra Shah Poised to Become Nepal's Youngest Prime Minister
Balendra Shah, the 35-year-old rap star and former mayor of Kathmandu, is set to become Nepal's youngest prime minister following a stunning electoral performance by his centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). Partial results from Nepal's election commission indicate the party, formed less than four years ago, has taken a dominant position in the parliamentary vote count.
Dramatic Political Upheaval
The outcome marks a dramatic upheaval in the politics of the Himalayan nation of about 30 million people. Shah defeated veteran four-time prime minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, 74, who congratulated Shah on social media, wishing him a "smooth and successful" term. The RSP had already secured 117 of the 165 directly elected seats in the House of Representatives and was leading the party-list vote for proportional representation seats.
For decades, power has largely rotated between established parties including the Nepali Congress and communist groups such as the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), whose leaders have dominated national politics since the 1990s. This election represents a significant generational shift.
Youth-Driven Movement
Shah emerged as a leading figure in the youth-driven protests that shook Nepal last year. His rise coincided with anger among younger voters who accuse Nepal's political establishment of corruption, patronage networks, and failure to address unemployment. Over 900,000 first-time voters joined Nepal's nearly 19 million electorate, with youth unemployment at 20.6 percent.
"It was so overwhelming because earlier whenever there used to be elections we hardly used to know, we hardly used to get that kind of a vibe," said Sakina Batt, a 35-year-old resident of Kathmandu. "But this time it felt like there were so many people participating, and taking interest in politics."
From Rap Star to Political Leader
Shah's trajectory is unusual even in a political era shaped by social media and anti-establishment movements. A trained civil engineer who first rose to prominence as a rapper, Shah began attracting national attention in 2013 after appearing in a rap battle known as Raw Barz. His music frequently criticized political corruption and social inequality.
One track, "Nepal Haseko" (Nepal Smiling), became associated with the protest movement that erupted across the country in 2025, eventually attracting more than 10 million views on YouTube. Another song, "Balidan" (Sacrifice), which focuses on themes of impunity and corruption, also gained millions of views.
"Most of his raps are about the country being corrupted and youth leaving abroad for employment," said Batt. "Rappers are observers. Whatever they rap, there is a fact involved in that."
Mayoral Tenure and Controversies
Shah's transition from music to politics happened in 2022 when he won Kathmandu's mayoral election as an independent with 61,767 votes, beating established party candidates. During his tenure, he pursued initiatives aimed at improving municipal management, including addressing waste disposal problems and clearing uncollected garbage.
However, his approach attracted criticism. His administration's demolition of illegal structures and relocation of squatters from riverbanks drew accusations that some policies were heavy-handed. Rights groups criticized the use of police against street vendors as the city attempted to regulate unlicensed businesses.
In November 2025, as Kathmandu's mayor, Shah triggered a major diplomatic and political storm by posting a rant on Facebook using expletives against the US, India, China, and Nepal's political parties. The post drew swift condemnation, with many describing it as "the height of irresponsibility" for a public official. Shah later deleted the post.
Electoral Strategy and Challenges Ahead
The RSP combined large rallies with an extensive digital strategy aimed at younger voters. Strategy teams and hundreds of campaign workers organized road shows across multiple districts and managed the party's online messaging. Supporters produced AI-generated campaign music played at rallies.
Shah generally avoided interviews with traditional news outlets, instead communicating through social media, podcasts and televised appearances. He has a large online following, with millions of followers across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and other platforms.
"The future prime minister (Shah) has clearly spoken that there will be no compromise when it comes to developing the country," said RSP party member and volunteer Khagendra Chapagain.
However, analysts warn that the scale of expectations facing Shah is enormous. "The problem or challenge with this new party would be to deliver things, given the limited resources and the limited institutional support," independent analyst Keshab Prasad Poudel told AP. "Because people have high expectations, that doesn't necessarily mean that the new party can fulfil it."
Shah has pledged to create 1.2 million jobs and curb labor migration, addressing key concerns of Nepal's youth population. More than 40 percent of Nepal's population is under the age of 35, yet most senior party leaders are in their seventies.
The election follows a period of political upheaval triggered by September 2025 protests that erupted after the Oli government imposed a ban on social media platforms. The move quickly ignited wider anger over corruption, inequality and lack of opportunities, escalating into wider confrontation that left at least 77 people dead.
Shah chose to run in Jhapa-5, a constituency in eastern Nepal long associated with Oli, winning decisively against the veteran politician with 68,348 votes compared with Oli's 18,734. For supporters, the result symbolized the generational shift they had been hoping for.
