Kathmandu, March 6 – If the trends are any indication, Nepal is set for a Prime Minister from the Millennial generation, who will take office riding on the wave of popularity among Gen Z. Balendra Shah does not reflect the image of a typical politician; rather, he is like a musician and social media enthusiast who seems to effortlessly ride the wave of popularity.
“Balen believes in spontaneity. He famously says that there is no plan he follows,” said 25-year-old Rajat Das Shreshtha, a well-known musician in Kathmandu who was among the protesters who took to the streets last year, leading to the resignation of the then K.P. Sharma Oli government.
“He is like a phantom; no one – even among his core group – seems to know where he is, where he will be, or what his plans are,” said Syamantak Ghosh, a journalist from Deutsche Welle (DW), a German international public broadcaster, covering the Nepal elections.
“For Gen Z, his image is that of a savior,” he added. As his “savior” drove out of his camp office in Damak, part of his constituency of Jhapa 5, on Monday, March 2, at least 50 of his devoted fans from nearby lanes surrounded his SUV, shouting his name.
He smiled and acknowledged them, agreeing to their request for a “selfie” at the wheel, before speeding away. The fans were left in awe, waving and shouting as the speeding SUV stirred up a cloud of dust behind it in the narrow lane.
He loves theatrics. He would put on his sunglasses, which he often wears in public, and say "I love you" as the crowd of admirers almost swooned. Yet, he appears to prefer staying to himself, preferring to zip through the constituency during the campaign trail, rather than mingling with locals or addressing rallies like other leaders.
Despite the large crowds that gather whenever he is spotted, Balen is a cautious person. Once, while he was driving on the highway, a media car tried to overtake his, and the occupants started taking his photographs. He immediately pulled over his car and asked his aides to politely advise the media members not to repeat the exercise. They didn't; subsequently losing track of Balen in the highway chase.
Born on April 27, 1990, in Kathmandu, Balen Shah is a structural engineer-turned-rapper, and an independent, politically unconventional candidate who became the city’s 15th mayor in 2022.
Through his rap music questioning authorities and his social media presence, he was already a national figure. His rise fused street-level charisma, social media fluency, and a promise to overturn Nepal’s old political order.
As mayor, he emphasised visible, results-oriented projects, anti-corruption rhetoric, and a hands-on approach that worked well on social media and in street politics. His background as a non-career politician helped him position himself as an outsider reformer.
In his music career, Balen was active in 'Nephop' since around 2012, performing and producing politically-tinged rap that built him a public profile among younger Nepalis.
Resigning midway through his mayoral tenure, Balen’s profile expanded beyond Kathmandu. He joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party and emerged as a prominent voice in the post-uprising political landscape, campaigning on economic reform, youth empowerment, and stopping brain drain.
His rapid ascent made him be projected as a prime ministerial contender, challenging the ousted Prime Minister Oli in the latter’s bastion. He is a character painted by his followers and the media as a symbol of a break with the past.
Balen’s success is built on charisma, his digital reach, and a reform message that many believe can change Nepal’s policy and politics. Balen, added his admirer Rajat, views the job of the Prime Minister “easier” than a mayor, since the latter needs a number of clearances to implement changes.
What he may realise is that in the new office – if he indeed assumes it – the clearances will need to come from a larger number, the people of Nepal.
