Former Rapper Balendra Shah Set to Become Nepal’s Prime Minister

Balendra Shah now appears poised to become Nepal’s next national leader after his party secured a commanding lead in the country’s parliamentary election. The rapper turned politician rose to national prominence during youth-led protests last year and has quickly transformed that popularity into political power. Many observers now expect Shah to form the next government.

Vote counting still continues across the country. However, early results already place Shah and his Rastriya Swatantra Party in a dominant position. The party has secured a strong majority of directly elected seats, putting Shah firmly on track to become Nepal’s next prime minister.

Preliminary results released on Sunday show that the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), also known as the National Independent Party, has already won 117 of the 165 directly elected seats in Nepal’s House of Representatives. The party also leads in several other constituencies where officials have not yet finalized results.

Nepal’s parliament holds 275 seats in total. Voters elect 165 lawmakers directly, while the remaining 110 seats come through a proportional representation system. Early projections suggest the RSP also leads in the proportional vote. Current estimates place the party at about 51 percent of those seats.

Youth Movement Drives Shah’s Rise

Shah’s political ascent was closely connected to the protest movement that swept through Nepal in 2025. Thousands of young citizens organized demonstrations after growing frustrated with corruption and government failures. The protests eventually forced former prime minister Khadga Prasad Oli to resign.

Authorities first sparked public anger when they introduced a controversial social media ban. The decision quickly triggered nationwide protests. Demonstrations soon expanded into a larger movement demanding political reform, transparency, and accountability.

Violent clashes followed as tensions escalated across several cities. Reports later confirmed that at least 77 people died while hundreds suffered injuries during the unrest.

Before entering politics, Shah built a strong following as a hip hop artist. He performed under the stage name “Balen.” His music often criticized social inequality, corruption, and political elites.

Many young Nepalis connected with his message. One of his most popular songs, “Balidan,” which means “sacrifice” in Nepali, has gathered more than 12 million views on YouTube. The track reflects the frustration many citizens felt toward the country’s leadership.

Shah first stepped into mainstream politics in 2022. He ran for mayor of Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital city. His victory surprised many political observers and analysts. The result also revealed growing support for alternative political voices outside Nepal’s traditional party system.

During the current parliamentary campaign, Shah promised major economic reforms. He pledged to improve living standards and expand employment opportunities. His agenda also includes raising Nepal’s per capita income and doubling the country’s economy to reach a projected gross domestic product of $100 billion.

Election results suggest that his message strongly resonated with voters. Nepal, a Himalayan nation with about 30 million people, continues to struggle with widespread poverty. Nearly one-fifth of the population lives below the poverty line.

Supporters of the RSP have already begun celebrating the party’s strong performance. Many greeted the winning candidates with flower garlands and traditional scarves. Party leaders, however, have asked supporters to avoid large victory rallies. They urged restraint out of respect for those who lost their lives during last year’s protests.

Political analysts believe the party now holds enough seats to form a single-party government. Still, they caution that meeting voters’ high expectations could prove challenging.

Experts point out that the relatively new party must build strong institutions and develop effective policies. Nepal has faced years of political instability since the country abolished its monarchy in 2008.

Election officials expect to release the final results later this week.