Kathmandu [Nepal], March 7 (HBTV): In 2022, a structural engineer with a signature pair of black rectangular sunglasses and a history in the underground rap scene did the unthinkable. Balendra 'Balen' Shah dismantled the established political machinery of Nepal to become the Mayor of Kathmandu.
Running as an independent under the symbol of a walking stick, Balen secured 61,767 votes, comfortably outstripping veterans Sirjana Singh of the Nepali Congress, who secured 38,341 votes, while CPN-UML candidate Keshav Sthapit, also the former mayor of the capital, received 38,117 votes.
Now, just four years later, the 35-year-old is no longer just a local phenomenon; he is poised to become one of the youngest Prime Ministers in the nation’s history.
His success was not accidental. While he rose to fame in 2013 through the rap battle league Raw Barz, he spent two and a half years quietly laying the groundwork for his mayoral run.
His academic credentials, including a degree in engineering from Himalayan White House College and a Master’s degree in structural engineering from India, gave him the technical credibility that resonated with a disillusioned electorate.
His political strategy has been equally deliberate. Following the tragic death of 77 people during the September protests and the subsequent resignation of KP Sharma Oli, Balen Shah emerged as the first choice among Gen-Z activists to lead an interim government.
He declined the interim role and instead supported former Chief Justice Sushila Karki. The move allowed him to avoid a short interim tenure and position himself for a potential full five-year term as Prime Minister.
On January 18, 2026, Balen formally joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), launching his campaign from Janakpur the following day.
In a move widely considered politically risky, Balen chose to contest the election from Jhapa-05, the long-standing stronghold of political heavyweight KP Sharma Oli.
Located around 300 km from the capital, the constituency has now become the centre of intense political attention, with projections suggesting Balen’s popularity is challenging Oli’s long-standing dominance.
Balen’s relationship with the public is marked by a strong digital presence and a direct communication style. With more than 3.5 million followers on Facebook, he often bypasses traditional press conferences to address the public directly through social media.
However, his unfiltered approach has also generated controversy. In a now-deleted post in November, he criticised global powers, including the United States, India, and China, as well as several major Nepali political parties, including the Rastriya Swatantra Party, which he joined two months later.
Despite his confrontational rhetoric, including past threats to 'burn down' the administrative hub of Singhadurbar, his supporters view him as an authentic alternative to the country’s entrenched political establishment.
Born in 1990, Balen is the youngest of four siblings. His late father, Ram Narayan Shah, was an Ayurvedic practitioner who passed away shortly before Balen’s entry into mainstream politics.
Even as he pursues the premiership, Balen continues to work toward a PhD in traditional infrastructure at Kathmandu University, combining the roles of an academic, technical expert, and populist political figure.
Nepal’s political landscape is undergoing a significant transformation. Whether Balen Shah will emerge as a reformer or a disruptive force remains to be seen, but his rise signals a growing challenge to the country’s long-dominant political establishment.
(ANI)