Kathmandu – The Nepal former rapper, Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen, has joined a political alliance ahead of the March parliamentary elections. The move could challenge the country’s traditional parties that have dominated politics for over three decades.
Balen, a rapper turned Kathmandu mayor, joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) led by former TV host-turned-politician Rabi Lamichhane. Party officials said that under the alliance, Balen, 35, will become prime minister if the RSP wins the March 5 elections, while Lamichhane, 48, remains party chief.
Both leaders have promised to address demands raised during the youth-led “Gen Z” protests in September. The protests, triggered by corruption concerns, claimed 77 lives and led to Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli’s resignation. Balen played a key role in organizing and supporting the youth during the protests.
Analysts described the alliance as a strategic move. Bipin Adhikari said, “It is very smart for RSP to bring in Balen and his young supporters. Traditional parties fear losing young voters.” Nearly 19 million of Nepal’s 30 million people are eligible to vote, with nearly one million added after the protests, mostly youth.
Balen was an undeclared leader of the September protests and helped form the interim government led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, which will oversee the upcoming elections. Critics, however, have questioned his limited public appearances during the protests, noting he primarily communicated with supporters via social media.
The alliance is expected to challenge the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) and the Nepali Congress party, which have shared power for decades. Lamichhane’s RSP, formed ahead of the 2022 elections, is known for its anti-corruption stance. Lamichhane is currently out on bail over alleged fund misuse in cooperative organizations.
Spokesperson Prakash Sharan Mahat of the Nepali Congress called both leaders “controversial” and suggested their alliance might not significantly impact traditional parties’ dominance.
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The emergence of the Nepal former rapper in national politics signals a shift toward youth participation and potentially a new political landscape in the Himalayan nation.
