Nepal has started the vote count in the first general elections since the Gen Z protests, which led to the resignation of the government led by former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli last year. According to the initial vote counts, the rapper-turned-politician and former mayor of the capital city, Balendra Shah, is leading the former PM in the Jhapa constituency, which is considered Oli’s political stronghold.
Shah, 35, has garnered huge support during his election rallies, especially the youth, who showed tremendous support during his campaign. He is popularly known as Balen and joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party in December last year. He is now the party’s candidate in the election, with the party led by former TV host-turned-politician Rabi Lamichhane.
Shah also played a significant role in the political instability that Nepal faced in September last year. He was one of the most influential figures among the Gen Z protesters, who called for action against corruption in the Himalayan nation. He also played a role in the formation of the interim government led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, which was supposed to conduct the election in the Himalayan nation.
Who is Balendra Shah?
Balendra Shah, commonly known by his stage name Balen, was born on the 27th of April, 1990, in Kathmandu, Nepal. Balen is a 35-year-old Nepalese politician, structural engineer, rapper, and a strong contender to become the next Prime Minister of Nepal after the general elections scheduled to take place on the 5th of March, 2026.
Balen completed his educational pursuits at Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) and V.S. Niketan Secondary School. Balen was previously the Mayor of Kathmandu from 2022 to 2026. Balen currently works with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and holds Nepali nationality.
Balendra Shah Music Career
Before he became involved in politics, Balendra Shah had already made a name for himself in the Nepalese hip-hop movement. His musical career started in the early 2010s. In 2012, while he was in the ninth grade, he released his first song, “Sadak Balak,” which focused on the struggles of urban youth in Nepal.
In 2013, he became popular after he was featured in the YouTube rap battle series “Raw Barz.” This gave him the popularity he needed in the underground hip-hop movement in Nepal.
Most of the songs he made were about social issues like corruption, inequality, and the struggles of urban youth in Nepal. Among the popular songs he made was “Balidan,” which was about the corruption in the country’s politics. This song became popular among the youth in Nepal, especially after he uploaded the video on YouTube.
In 2025, Balendra Shah composed, wrote, and sang the song “Nepal Haseko…” for the Nepali movie “Laaj Sharanam.” This song was first uploaded to Shah’s YouTube channel and later included in the movie, which made the song one of the trending songs on YouTube.
Balendra Shah Religion
Balendra Shah was born into a family of Madhesis who spoke the Maithili language. His father was an Ayurvedic practitioner. While Balendra Shah has not emphasized his religious views, he does have roots in the Hindu Madhesi culture.
Balendra Shah Wife
Balendra Shah is married to Sabina Kafle. The two got married in 2018. Sabina Kafle has been seen accompanying Balendra Shah on his journey, whether it is political or otherwise, as he transformed from being simply a rapper and an engineer into becoming a prominent political leader in Nepal.
Balendra Shah Father
Balendra Shah’s father’s name was Ram Narayan Shah, who was an Ayurvedic government employee. His original district was Mahottari, Nepal, and he passed away in December 2025.
Balendra Shah Net Worth
Balendra “Balen” Shah, who is a prominent politician and has been the Mayor of Kathmandu, has an estimated net worth between 5-6 crores Nepalese rupees, which is roughly between 3.1-3.8 crores Indian rupees. Reportedly, he has an income of over 3 lakh Nepalese rupees every month, which is from his profession and politics.
Balendra Shah Controversies
The political career of Balendra Shah has also faced various controversies. In 2022, his demolition drive against illegal properties in Kathmandu faced criticism for being too harsh. His initiative to uncover the hidden Tukucha River by demolishing parts of private properties has also faced legal issues.
The other major controversy came when the government attempted to remove landless squatters living on the banks of the Bagmati River, which resulted in clashes between law enforcers and squatters who demanded rehabilitation before relocation.
Shah has also faced criticism for his crackdown on street vendors, who claimed that law enforcers had used excessive force. In 2023, he faced huge criticism and outrage after posting on Facebook that, if Kathmandu Metropolitan City vehicles were stopped by police, he would “set the Singha Durbar on fire.”
The display of the map of “Greater Nepal” in his office has created diplomatic tensions, especially with India. His initiative to ban the screening of Indian films in Kathmandu faced legal issues after he banned Indian films following a controversial dialogue in the movie Adipurush.
Later, in 2025, Shah faced criticism again when he made abusive comments on social media against various countries and political parties. After the protest by Gen Z in 2025, students have also accused him of not sending fire brigades to control fires at government buildings, which was denied by him.
Nepal Election 2026: What is the Current Constituency of Balendra Shah?
Balen Shah is in the run for the general elections of Nepal 2026, and he is contesting the elections from the constituency of Jhapa-5, which is deemed to be the stronghold of KP Sharma Oli. The initial results indicate that Balen Shah is in the lead in this high-profile contest.
Balendra Shah Current Political Status
Balendra Shah had joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in late 2025, and he has been made the prime ministerial candidate by this new political party. His campaign has received huge support from the Gen Z generation, especially after the protest against corruption in September 2025, which led to the fall of the previous government.
