Kathmandu (TDI): The former underground rapper Balendra Shah, also known as Balen, has taken oath as Nepal’s new prime minister on Friday. His Rastriya Swatantra Party secured a landslide victory in the general elections held on 5 March, winning 182 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives.
The elections were Nepal’s first since last year’s youth-led protests that toppled the previous government. The 35-year-old achieved a decisive victory after campaigning on promises of anti-corruption measures, judicial reforms, and the creation of 1.2 million new jobs.
Supporters see him as a fresh face capable of breaking away from decades of elite rule and nepotism that have long caused frustration among many Nepalis, particularly the younger generation.
Outside Nepal, Balendra’s rise to power draws attention due to a campaign largely run and amplified through social media, and not on the backbone of big political capital.
From Rap Battles to National Politics
Balendra Shah first gained prominence in Nepal’s rap scene in 2013 with incisive lyrics criticizing corruption and social inequality. His hit song Balidan, which highlights the sacrifices of Nepali workers abroad, has been viewed over 14 million times on YouTube.
He later won the Kathmandu mayoral election in 2022 as an independent candidate, focusing on cleaning up the capital, preserving heritage sites, and addressing illegal construction.
After three years as mayor, he joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party and became its prime ministerial candidate. His campaign remained modest, relying heavily on social media to connect directly with voters rather than traditional media interviews.
Unity Message in New Rap Song
Just hours after taking his oath as the Prime Minister, Balendra Shah released a new rap track calling for national unity. In the song, which quickly gained nearly three million views, he rapped: “The strength of unity is my national power. Undivided Nepali, this time history is being made.”
The lyrics echo the optimism and determination that helped fuel last September’s protests, during which his earlier song Nepal Haseko became an anthem for demonstrators.
Outgoing interim prime minister Sushila Karki, who led the caretaker government, welcomed the shift to younger leadership in her farewell address. She expressed confidence that the new government would focus on ending corruption, creating jobs and delivering social justice.
Balendra Shah now faces high expectations from a population eager and restless for real change. Key issues include chronic unemployment, a struggling economy and the need to release findings from the investigation into last year’s protests, which left at least 77 people dead.
The new prime minister and his party will face the challenge of balancing relations with neighboring countries, including China and India, while tackling domestic demands for accountability and economic recovery.
Muhammad Usman Hashmi
Muhammad Usman Hashmi is a researcher in International Relations, focusing on climate diplomacy, global governance, and political economy in the Global South. He has contributed to policy dialogues with the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia and serves as a Senior Research Fellow at the International Council on Human Rights, Peace and Politics. He is also associated with Rethinking Economics Islamabad, contributing to research on development and sustainability. He can be reached at musmanhashmi99@gmail.com
