In a historic political transformation, Balendra Shah—a 35-year-old rapper and reformist leader—is set to be sworn in as Nepal’s new prime minister on Friday. His rise follows a landslide electoral victory this month, fueled by a youth-driven movement demanding systemic change and an end to corruption.
Shah, popularly known as Balen, broke his post-election silence not with a conventional speech, but through a powerful rap song calling for national unity. The track, released on social media and streaming platforms, has already amassed nearly three million views. Lyrics such as, “The strength of unity is my national power,” and “My heart is full of courage, my red blood is boiling,” resonate with a generation hungry for reform.
His party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), secured a commanding majority of 182 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives. Shah ran alongside RSP president Rabi Lamichhane, a former deputy prime minister and television personality, who remains a key figure in the new administration.
The political upheaval comes six months after a deadly anti-corruption uprising in which at least 77 protesters were killed. The movement began in response to a temporary social media ban but quickly expanded into widespread demonstrations against economic hardship and governance failures.
Outgoing caretaker Prime Minister Sushila Karki, a 73-year-old former chief justice, expressed confidence in the incoming government during her farewell address. She emphasized the need to combat corruption, foster economic development, and promote social justice, adding that the nation’s future now rests in the hands of its youth.
A soon-to-be-released investigative report, commissioned by Karki’s administration, recommends prosecuting former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli—a four-time Marxist leader defeated by Shah in his own constituency—as well as former Interior Minister Ramesh Lekhak and ex-police chief Chandra Kuber Khapung. The report cites negligent conduct and failure to prevent casualties during the crackdown on protesters, which resulted in numerous fatalities from bullet wounds, many to the chest or head.