Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah has been sworn in as Prime Minister of Nepal following a decisive election victory, marking a major political shift in the country.
Popularly known as “Balen,” the 35-year-old leader rose to power after his Rastriya Swatantra Party secured 182 seats in the 275-member parliament in the March 5 elections. The vote came in the wake of nationwide anti-corruption protests led largely by young people, which left 76 people dead last September.
A former mayor of Kathmandu, Shah is now the youngest prime minister in decades and the first Madhesi leader—representing communities from Nepal’s southern plains—to hold the country’s top office.
He was sworn in at the presidential residence in the presence of diplomats and senior officials, signaling the beginning of a new administration expected to tackle long-standing challenges, including unemployment, corruption, and political instability.
Analysts say Shah’s immediate test will be delivering transparent governance and quick results to meet public expectations. A key priority will be implementing recommendations from a probe into the deadly protest crackdown, including possible legal action against those responsible, among them former Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli.
The protests that paved the way for Shah’s rise were driven by widespread frustration over job shortages and entrenched corruption. In a country of around 30 million people, about one-fifth live in poverty, while roughly 1,500 citizens leave daily in search of work abroad.
Political instability has long plagued Nepal, with 32 governments formed since 1990—none completing a full five-year term. Shah’s leadership is therefore seen as a critical opportunity to restore stability and rebuild public trust.
His party’s landslide victory left traditional القوى trailing behind, with the Nepali Congress securing just 38 seats and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) holding 25.
As Shah takes office, expectations are high that his administration can break with the past and deliver meaningful reforms in governance, economic growth, and job creation.
