Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen, is set to become Nepal’s next prime minister following his Rastriya Swatantra Party’s (RSP) unprecedented landslide victory in the first election after youth-led protests toppled the previous government.
The 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician and his three-year-old RSP clinched a rare outright majority, crushing veteran parties amid widespread public anger against the political old guard. Shah defeated four-time former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli decisively, 68,348 votes to 18,724, in results declared on March 7.
“It is the victory of hope and change,” declared senior RSP leader Ramesh Paudyal. “This is the most beautiful endorsement of the Gen Z movement. The true tribute to the Gen Z martyrs will be expressed through the daily work of the government led by Balendra Shah.”
Youth Uprising Sparks Historic Shift
The election followed deadly protests in September 2025, ignited by a social media ban but fueled by frustrations over poverty, unemployment, and corruption. Security forces killed 19 demonstrators, escalating unrest that claimed 70 lives through arson and clashes, forcing Oli’s Communist Party-led government to resign.
Shah, an engineer by training who rose to fame with anti-corruption rap tracks, had already made waves as Kathmandu’s independent mayor since 2022. He spearheaded city clean-ups, demolishing illegal structures and tackling waste management. Protest leaders favored him for interim prime minister, but Shah opted to contest the March 5 polls.
Defeat of Old Guard Signals New Era
Veteran parties lost vast seats, handing RSP its outright majority in one of Nepal’s most gripping elections in decades. Oli, 74, conceded graciously, wishing Shah an “uninterrupted five-year term.”
Shah collected his victory certificate in signature dark sunglasses and black blazer, emerging from his vehicle’s sunroof with a banner proclaiming: “Congratulations to all of you, this is your victory.”
Jubilant supporters, like 23-year-old Aditya Karna, hailed the win as “justice for the martyrs.” “One of the main factors behind the Gen Z movement, KP Oli, has been defeated. Now, Balen will lead Nepal toward a better future,” Karna said.
The dynamic campaign tapped into young Nepalis’ hunger for change, positioning Shah as frontrunner despite his political novice status.
