Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah has unseated former Nepalese Prime Minister Sharma KP Oli in his parliamentary constituency, moving closer to becoming Nepal’s next prime minister.
Nepal’s Election Commission confirmed on Saturday that Shah, 35, secured 68,348 votes, surpassing Oli’s 18,734 votes to clinch victory. Thursday’s general election the first since youth-led protests toppled the government in September pitched the traditional establishment against a new generation of politicians appealing to Gen Z voters demanding change.
Shah’s Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is on course to win the general election, holding a majority of directly elected seats in partial official results released Sunday. He is also leading in the proportional representation vote count, according to the election commission.
Nepal has endured more than two decades of revolving coalition governments, primarily dominated by three parties, two of them communist. This election tested whether Gen Z voters could push an untested generation into power or whether veteran leaders would maintain their hold. With 800,000 first-time voters, the youth bloc played a critical role in shaping outcomes.
Known popularly as Balen, Shah has been active in Nepal’s hip hop scene for several years. His song “Balidan,” which explores the theme of sacrifice in Nepali, has garnered millions of YouTube views. Shah voiced support for protesters during the September 2025 unrest triggered by Oli’s social media bans. The demonstrations criticized political corruption and class inequality, particularly the influence of so-called “nepo babies,” and resulted in 77 deaths. A BBC investigation revealed orders for lethal force against unarmed demonstrators. Shah previously called Oli a “terrorist” who had betrayed the country.
While usually media-shy, Shah told the Financial Times during his campaign that he would be “the candidate for all of Nepal.” The RSP manifesto, released in February, promises to create 1.2 million jobs, reduce forced migration, and double per capita income from $1,447 to $3,000 within five years, boosting the national economy to $100 billion GDP. It also pledges to provide healthcare and other safety nets for the population.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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