Kathmandu: Nepal’s political crisis has taken a dramatic turn with the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli amid nationwide Gen Z-led protests that have rocked the Himalayan nation. As the streets remain tense and questions swirl over who might succeed Oli, one name is emerging at the forefront of speculation: Kathmandu’s 33-year-old mayor, Balendra Shah—popularly known as Balen.
A structural engineer by training, a rapper by passion, and a political outsider who defied Nepal’s entrenched party system to win Kathmandu’s mayoral race in 2022, Shah has become a figure of unusual influence. For many Gen Z demonstrators demanding accountability and transparency, he represents a clean break from traditional politics.
From Rapper to Mayor: A Different Kind of Politician
Born in Kathmandu in 1990, Shah pursued civil engineering in Nepal before earning a master’s in structural engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University in India. But long before he stepped into politics, he built a reputation in Nepal’s underground hip-hop scene. His songs—biting, politically charged, and often directed at Oli’s government—captured frustrations about corruption, inequality, and state apathy.
One of his most popular tracks, Balidan (“Sacrifice”), denounced leaders as “thieves looting the nation.” During the current wave of unrest, Shah reposted the song on his Facebook page with a pointed caption: “Let the government allow me to speak.”
That blend of art, activism, and political ambition helped him connect with younger Nepalis. In 2022, running as an independent candidate, he won the Kathmandu mayoral election with over 61,000 votes—defeating candidates from Nepal’s major political parties. His victory was hailed as a generational shift in Nepal’s urban politics.
Gen Z’s Favourite?
The week-long protests that ultimately toppled Oli began as a backlash against the government’s sweeping ban on 26 social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X. For young Nepalis, already skeptical of political elites, the ban felt like an attack on free expression.
As demonstrations spread, students in school and college uniforms took to the streets, chanting slogans and clashing with police. At least 19 people have been killed, including 18 in Kathmandu alone. Hundreds more have been injured.
Amid the violence, Shah has voiced his sympathy for the demonstrators while also urging restraint. In a Facebook post after Oli’s resignation, he acknowledged that the “demand for the resignation of the government has been met” and cautioned against further destruction.
“The loss of the country’s wealth is, in reality, a loss to our own property,” Shah wrote. “It is now essential that we all act with restraint.”
Shah has also made it clear that the Gen Z protests are independent of traditional political actors. “The rally is clearly a spontaneous movement of Gen Z, for whom even I may seem old,” he said in an earlier post. “Political parties, leaders, activists, lawmakers, and campaigners should not try to co-opt this rally for their own interests.”
A Contender for Prime Minister?
With Oli’s resignation confirmed and President Ram Chandra Poudel also stepping down, Nepal faces a leadership vacuum. Who will become interim Prime Minister remains an open question.
Some protesters have already floated Shah’s name. His popularity among Gen Z, combined with his outsider image, makes him a symbolic figure for change. However, Shah himself has downplayed such prospects, noting that at 33 he is technically beyond the age bracket of Gen Z. “Since I am above age 28, I will not lead the movement,” he said, urging young people to shape their own destiny rather than rely on established figures.
Still, political analysts note that in the absence of consensus among traditional parties, Shah could emerge as a compromise candidate. His visibility—both nationally and internationally—has only grown. In 2023, Time Magazine listed him among its Top 100 emerging leaders. He has also been profiled by The New York Times and has maintained links with the U.S. Embassy in Nepal.
Shah has often been a vocal critic of Oli, branding him corrupt and disconnected from the people. His rise has coincided with growing public frustration with entrenched party politics.
But Shah has also courted controversy. In 2023, he banned the screening of Indian films in Kathmandu after objecting to the portrayal of Nepal’s territory in the Indian film Adipurush. The Supreme Court eventually overturned his order, but the episode cemented his image as a nationalist willing to defy larger powers.
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