Rapper-turned-Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen, has joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) led by former TV host-turned-politician Rabi Lamichhane ahead of Nepal’s March parliamentary elections. The alliance signals a challenge to parties that have dominated Nepalese politics for over three decades.
Under the agreement, 35-year-old Balen is set to become prime minister if the RSP wins the elections, while Lamichhane, 48, will continue as party chief. Both leaders pledged to address the demands raised during the youth-led “Gen Z” protests against widespread corruption in September.
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The protests, which resulted in 77 deaths and led to the resignation of Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, mobilized nearly one million new voters, mostly young people. Analysts say the inclusion of Balen and his supporters is a strategic move to attract this significant youth vote.
Balen gained prominence as an undeclared leader of the September protests and helped form the interim government led by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki. Critics, however, note that he mostly engaged with supporters through social media and avoided public appearances during the unrest.
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Traditional parties like the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) and the Nepali Congress, which have shared power for decades, face potential challenges from the RSP alliance. Some critics remain skeptical, calling Balen and Lamichhane “controversial” and questioning their overall impact on the elections.