Micah Jonah
March 8, 2026
A rapper-turned-politician, Balendra Shah, is leading the race to become the next prime minister of Nepal after preliminary results from the country’s parliamentary election showed his party ahead of traditional political rivals.
Partial results released by the Election Commission of Nepal indicate that the Rastriya Swatantra Party has won 60 of the 165 directly elected seats and is leading in 61 additional constituencies.
Shah, 35, who is widely known as “Balen”, previously served as mayor of Kathmandu after winning the 2022 mayoral election as an independent candidate.
During the latest vote, Shah contested directly against former prime minister Khadga Prasad Oli in a southeastern constituency, secured a decisive victory, reportedly receiving nearly four times the number of votes cast for his opponent.
Shah’s rise in politics follows the 2025 protests in Nepal, during which widespread demonstrations against corruption and economic challenges forced Oli from office.
The protests, which began after the government imposed restrictions on social media platforms, developed into a nationwide movement calling for political reform. At least 77 people were reported killed during the unrest.
Shah, who trained as a civil engineer before gaining popularity as a rapper known for songs addressing corruption and inequality, became a prominent figure during the protests.
His political party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party, was formed in 2022 on a reform platform aimed at challenging Nepal’s long-established political elite.
Shah’s campaign focused largely on improving access to healthcare and education for poorer citizens, while also appealing to younger voters seeking changes in the country’s leadership.
Nepal has a population of about 30 million people, with more than 40 percent under the age of 35, a demographic analysts say has played a significant role in the political shift.
While vote counting continues, the early results suggest a strong performance for Shah’s party, raising the possibility that the former musician could soon assume the country’s top political office.
