Following months of political turmoil and public unrest, Nepal now appears to be moving toward a new phase of stability. After the violent Gen-Z-led revolution that brought down the government of K P Sharma Oli in September last year, the Himalayan nation has conducted fresh general elections. Voting took place on March 5, 2026, and the counting of votes continued on Friday, March 7. Early trends suggest that Nepal may soon see its youngest Prime Minister, as the recently formed Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) led by Balendra “Balen” Shah is heading toward a major electoral victory.

Balen Shah, once known primarily as a rapper before entering politics, has emerged as a key figure in Nepal’s rapidly changing political landscape. Until recently he served as the Mayor of Kathmandu, but his political ambitions expanded during the current election cycle. Shah has secured more than 15,000 votes in the Jhapa-5 constituency, where he contested against the experienced political heavyweight and four-time Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, who also serves as the chair of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML).

According to data released by Nepal’s Election Commission, results from 161 out of the 165 directly elected seats indicate strong momentum for Shah’s party. The 35-year-old leader’s RSP has already won six seats and is leading in 110 seats. Final results are expected to be officially announced on Saturday, March 8.

Nepal’s parliamentary system consists of a House of Representatives with a total of 275 seats. Out of these, 165 seats are filled through direct elections, while the remaining 110 seats are allocated through a proportional representation system that distributes seats among political parties according to their vote share.

Balendra Shah’s rise to national prominence has been unusual compared to the traditional paths taken by most South Asian politicians. He graduated with a civil engineering degree from Himalayan Whitehouse International College in Kathmandu. Later, he travelled to India for higher studies and earned a postgraduate degree in structural engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) in Karnataka.

Shah’s formal entry into politics took place in 2022 when he decided to contest the Kathmandu mayoral election as an independent candidate. At that time, many political observers considered his bid symbolic rather than competitive. However, the result surprised the country’s political establishment. Shah swept the election by securing 61,767 votes, defeating candidates from several major political parties.

During the wave of protests known as the Gen-Z uprising that eventually brought down the Oli government, Shah’s popularity among younger voters became increasingly visible. Many protestors even projected him as the country’s interim Prime Minister after the fall of the government. His ability to connect with young people has been widely attributed to his strong presence on social media platforms and his earlier career as a hip-hop artist whose lyrics often criticized corruption and political privilege.

Shah’s recognition has also extended beyond Nepal. In 2023, he was included in Time Magazine’s Top 100 list and was also profiled by The New York Times, highlighting his transformation from musician to public leader.

His political journey has also included diplomatic interactions. Shah has been in contact with the United States Embassy in Nepal and held meetings with Ambassador R. Thompson in both 2022 and 2024. However, his public positions on certain issues have also sparked debates about his foreign policy stance. For instance, he openly opposed the release of the Indian film Adipurush in Nepal and issued an order banning Indian movies in Kathmandu cinemas. That decision, however, was later overturned by Nepal’s Supreme Court.

‘F**k India, China’ and More: Controversies That Follow Balen Shah

Balendra Shah, widely known simply as Balen, was born in 1990 in Kathmandu. His father, Ram Narayan Shah, worked as an Ayurveda practitioner, while his mother managed the household. Growing up in Nepal’s capital city, Balen pursued studies in civil engineering and structural engineering, building a strong technical academic background before entering public life.

After completing his undergraduate studies in Nepal, he travelled to India where he pursued a master’s degree in structural engineering at Visvesvaraya Technological University in Karnataka. His engineering background later played a role in reconstruction work following the devastating 2015 Nepal earthquake, when he contributed to rebuilding damaged homes.

Before politics, Balen was known for his music. In the early 2010s he began performing rap and hip-hop songs that carried strong political messages. One of his songs, “Balidan”, attracted millions of views on YouTube across the world. His music openly criticised corruption and political elites, whom he described as “fools” and “looting thieves”. These lyrics resonated strongly with many Nepalis, especially younger citizens who had grown increasingly frustrated with the political system.

His political breakthrough came in 2022 when he surprised much of the country’s political establishment by contesting the Kathmandu mayoral election as an independent candidate. Against all expectations, he secured a massive 61,767 votes. Candidates from major parties such as the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) received 38,341 and 38,117 votes respectively, placing them far behind him.

Balen’s tenure as mayor proved eventful and often controversial. He launched efforts to remove illegal construction and improve urban management in Kathmandu. At the same time, he frequently clashed with bureaucrats and senior politicians, creating friction between the city administration and national government officials.

The political environment changed dramatically after the Gen-Z protests in September 2025 that forced the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. The protests opened new opportunities for emerging leaders such as Balen. According to Al Jazeera, many Gen-Z activists supported him as the country’s interim leader after Oli stepped down. However, Balen instead supported former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki for the role.

In December 2025, Balen resigned as mayor and entered parliamentary politics as a candidate representing the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). The party had earlier secured only around 10 percent of the vote in the 2022 elections but hoped to expand its influence in the new political climate.

The RSP focused its campaign heavily on economic reforms and employment. One of its major promises was to create 1.2 million jobs and reverse the growing trend of Nepalis leaving the country in search of work abroad.

Balen contested the parliamentary election from Jhapa-5 constituency, located around 300 kilometres southeast of Kathmandu. His campaign relied heavily on digital communication platforms. He used social media, podcasts and television appearances to spread his political message.

His online following is substantial. Balen has around 3.5 million followers on Facebook, about 1 million on Instagram, nearly 400,000 followers on X, and close to 1 million subscribers on YouTube.

Controversies Surrounding Balen

Despite his popularity, critics have questioned whether Balen Shah possesses the experience and temperament needed to lead the country. They often point to a number of controversies associated with him, including a controversial late-night Facebook post in 2025 in which he criticized several countries and political parties.

The now-deleted post read:

“Fk America
Fk India
Fk China
Fk UML
Fk Congress
Fk RSP
Fk RPP
Fk Maobaadi
Go to hell, you guys all combined can do nothing."

Ironically, Balen later joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party, one of the political parties mentioned in the post.

Another confrontation occurred when former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli called for a public debate among prime ministerial candidates of major parties on Facebook. Balen rejected the proposal and instead demanded that Oli accept responsibility for civilian deaths during the protests. He also asked Oli to admit that he was a “terrorist”.

Balen has also faced criticism for statements he made during his time as mayor. In 2023, when his wife was stopped by a traffic policeman while travelling in his official vehicle, he reacted strongly on social media and issued a threat directed at the government.

He wrote:

“If any of our KMC vehicles are stopped by the government from tomorrow, I will set the Singha Durbar on fire. Remember, you thief government,”

Singha Durbar is the central administrative complex of Nepal and houses several government offices along with the Prime Minister’s Office.

Another controversy erupted in 2023 after India unveiled an “Akhand Bharat” mural representing a greater historical India. In response, Balen placed a “Greater Nepal” map in his office that showed Indian territories once associated with Nepal. During the same period, he also banned the screening of Indian films in Kathmandu.

More recently, he faced criticism during the election campaign after being seen driving an expensive Land Rover Defender while campaigning for parliamentary elections.

Even with these controversies, many supporters continue to see Balen as a symbol of political change. Pranaya Rana, a journalist writing for the Kalam Weekly newsletter, told Al Jazeera that “Young Nepalis see him as a decisive actor, who is not beholden to traditional political or business interests.” Rana further explained that “Many admire his macho public persona and his willingness to take on entrenched political patronage networks.”

For many citizens, especially young voters, Balen represents hope for a different kind of leadership. A resident of Janakpur named Sah expressed this sentiment clearly while speaking to Al Jazeera. He said, “It’s the trust he has gained among the young people. He is the only one who can take the country forward.”

After the Landslide: What Balen Shah’s Huge Mandate Could Mean for India–Nepal Relations

The early results of Nepal’s election suggest more than just a change of leadership. They indicate a dramatic shift in the country’s political direction. The Rastriya Swatantra Party, led by Balendra “Balen” Shah, appears to be heading toward a landslide victory, leading in roughly 110 of the 165 directly elected parliamentary seats.

This surge has weakened many of Nepal’s traditional political parties, often referred to as the “old guard”. The outcome reflects widespread public dissatisfaction that had already surfaced during the Gen-Z protests which forced the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in September 2025.

For India, Nepal’s political transformation could signal the beginning of a new diplomatic phase. Balen Shah is not only a new political leader but also a representative of a younger and more assertive generation that seeks to redefine Nepal’s relationships with major powers.

The Decline of Traditional Diplomatic Channels

For decades, India’s Nepal policy relied on strong ties with established political parties such as the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML. Balen Shah’s rise represents a break from that pattern.

Before joining the RSP in late 2025, Shah served as the Mayor of Kathmandu and developed a reputation for communicating directly with the public rather than relying on conventional political channels. With millions of followers on social media, he frequently uses online platforms instead of traditional diplomatic networks.

His growing political authority means that India may need to adjust its diplomatic approach. Negotiations that once relied on long-standing relationships with senior political figures may now require engagement with a leader whose political brand centres on transparency and the slogan of “Nepal First”.

Rising Nationalism and Sovereignty Issues

Balen’s earlier political actions have shown that he is willing to take strong positions on matters related to national identity and sovereignty. The controversy surrounding the “Greater Nepal” map and his temporary ban on Indian films in Kathmandu illustrate this assertive approach.

If his party secures a large parliamentary majority, Balen could push for a tougher stance on sensitive issues such as the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship and border disputes involving Kalapani and Lipulekh.

Such positions could create diplomatic tension with India in the short term. However, they may also open the possibility for final negotiations on longstanding disputes if both sides are willing to engage constructively.

Development and Economic Cooperation

Despite his strong nationalist rhetoric, Balen’s professional background as a structural engineer has shaped much of his political agenda. The RSP manifesto emphasises economic development, infrastructure reform and job creation.

The party has promised to create 1.2 million jobs and expand Nepal’s economy significantly. It has also proposed improvements in urban infrastructure and development projects across the country.

These goals align with India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy, which focuses on strengthening economic partnerships with neighbouring countries. India remains Nepal’s largest trading partner and a major source of investment.

If both countries cooperate on projects such as hydropower development, digital connectivity and cross-border infrastructure, a new economic partnership could emerge under Balen’s leadership.

Balancing Between India and China

Perhaps the most delicate challenge during Balen Shah’s leadership will be Nepal’s geopolitical balance between India and China. In the past, Nepal’s political leaders were often labelled as either pro-India or pro-China.

Balen represents a different approach. His political messaging suggests that he intends to maintain balanced relations with multiple global powers while prioritising Nepal’s national interests.

His viral social media posts criticizing several major countries demonstrate his willingness to express frustration openly. At the same time, his policy approach indicates that he intends to leverage relationships with both India and China to strengthen Nepal’s development prospects.

For India, the key challenge will be ensuring that Nepal’s “Nepal First” policy does not gradually move closer to China’s strategic influence. Maintaining strong cultural ties, economic partnerships and geographic connectivity could play an important role in preserving the long-standing relationship between the two neighbours.

As the final election results approach, Nepal stands on the edge of a political transformation. Whether Balen Shah ultimately becomes the country’s next Prime Minister will soon be confirmed. What is already clear, however, is that Nepal’s political landscape has entered a new and unpredictable chapter.