Rapper-Turned-Politician Balendra Shah Poised to Become Nepal's Youngest Prime Minister After Landslide Victory
In a historic shift for Nepal's politics, 35-year-old Balendra Shah—better known as "Balen," a former rapper and ex-mayor of Kathmandu—is set to become the country's next Prime Minister following his Rastriya Swatantra Party's (RSP) resounding landslide win in the March 2026 general elections. The elections, held on March 5, 2026, marked the first parliamentary vote since a massive youth-led uprising in September 2025 toppled the previous government amid widespread protests against corruption, economic stagnation, and poor governance. The Gen Z-fueled revolution, which resulted in dozens of deaths and forced the resignation of veteran leader K.P. Sharma Oli, paved the way for this dramatic change, with voters rejecting traditional parties in favor of fresh, reformist voices. Shah's RSP, a centrist outfit formed just four years ago, secured a commanding majority in the 275-member House of Representatives. Partial and official results showed the party winning ...