A Rapper-Turned-Mayor in the Political Spotlight
KATHMANDU — In a country long steered by veteran politicians, a 35-year-old mayor has suddenly become the unlikely face of Nepal’s restless youth.
Balendra Shah, better known as Balen, is Kathmandu’s mayor and a former rapper whose tracks once railed against corruption and injustice. Today, he is being hailed by many as the man to speak for a generation that feels locked out of power.
Calls for his leadership grew louder after days of anti-corruption protests rocked the capital. Nineteen people were killed. The unrest forced the resignation of Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, 73, who had dominated the country’s politics for decades.
“You should be our new prime minister,” wrote one supporter on social media, echoing the sentiment of thousands urging him to step forward.
THIS IS HOW IT’S DONE 🏆
— Liz Churchill (@liz_churchill10) September 9, 2025
Politicians BANNED social media use in Nepal so their CITIZENS BURNED DOWN PARLIAMENT 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 as the CORRUPT Politicians FLED by helicopter. pic.twitter.com/TUDS2DJgVO
A Generational Divide
More than half of Nepal’s 30 million people are under 30. Yet the country has been run by leaders often twice their age. That disconnect has fuelled frustration and, in recent weeks, a movement led by “Gen Z Nepal,” a group that organised the protests demanding change.
“Shah should be among the youth representatives who meet the president to chart the next steps,” said Balaram K.C., a former Supreme Court judge and constitutional expert.
A draft proposal by the protest group suggests a Neutral Interim Authority Council made up of youth leaders, technocrats, and civil society figures to oversee the country until fresh elections in about 18 months. Shah’s name appears on the list.
The Mayor Who Defied the System
Shah first captured national attention in 2022 when, running as an independent, he won the mayoral race in Kathmandu. His victory was seen as a rebuke to Nepal’s traditional parties, which many accuse of corruption and complacency.
Trained as a structural engineer, Shah also made his mark in music. His 2020 rap “Balidan” — Sacrifice — has more than 11 million views on YouTube, with lyrics criticising corruption and governance failures.
On Instagram, where he has over 800,000 followers, he has stood firmly with the protesters. He went as far as calling the former prime minister a “terrorist” who, he said, failed to understand “the pain of losing a son or daughter.”
Hesitant Hero
Yet Shah himself has been cautious. He did not join the protests in person, saying they were mainly for those under 26 — “too young to see me as one of them.” But he added it was vital to listen.
On Tuesday, he posted a warning to the demonstrators: “Now your generation will have to lead the country. Be prepared!”
His office has not confirmed whether he would accept a role in an interim government. His phone, switched off during the height of the protests, left many wondering what his next move might be.
A Figure to Watch
Born in Kathmandu in 1990, Shah studied civil engineering before completing a master’s degree in India. In 2023, Time magazine named him one of its Top 100 Emerging Leaders.
Whether he chooses to step into national politics or not, his rise reflects a broader truth: Nepal’s younger generation is no longer willing to wait quietly on the sidelines.
As one protester put it outside the debris-strewn streets of Kathmandu this week: “We need new faces, new voices. Balen gives us hope.”
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