Former rap artist Balendra Shah will run for the position of Prime Minister of Nepal in the parliamentary elections to be held on April 5, 2026. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
This was reported by the Reuters news agency. Balendra Shah recently joined the National Independent Party (RSP).
The party is led by Rabi Lamichhane, who was previously known as a TV presenter. If the RSP wins the election, the party is expected to entrust the government leadership specifically to Balendra Shah.
According to political analyst Bipin Adhikari, including Balendra Shah and his young supporters in their ranks was a successful and strategic decision for the party. Older parties that have been leading in the political arena for many years are worried about losing the youth.
The possibility that young people may support a new political force has intensified this concern. Nepalese politics has been mainly dominated by the Nepal Communist Party and the centrist “Nepal Congress” for the past 30 years.
According to the Nepal Central Election Commission, out of the country’s 30 million population, 11 million have the right to vote in parliamentary elections. Balendra Shah’s entry into the political arena became more noticeable during the mass protests that began in 2025.
These protests had strong support among young people and demanded the fight against corruption and the removal of restrictions on social networks. As a result, the head of government, Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli, resigned.
Balendra Shah was born on April 27, 1990, in Nepal. He began his creative career as a rap artist and was known by the stage name "Balen".
Later, he studied civil engineering and became involved in public activities. In 2022, he won the election as an independent candidate and assumed the position of mayor of Kathmandu city.
