Rapper-politician Balendra Shah set to be Nepal's next prime minister

BBC News - WorldCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete March 7, 2026 at 06:02 PM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

Rapper Balendra Shah, also known as Balen, is poised to become Nepal's next prime minister after his RSP party won the general election. The election, held after youth-led protests in September, saw Shah defeat former Prime Minister Sharma KP Oli in his constituency. Shah received 68,348 votes compared to Oli's 18,734. The election pitted established politicians against a new generation seeking change, with a significant number of first-time Gen Z voters. Shah's campaign focused on addressing unemployment and low wages, pledging to create 1.2 million jobs and increase Nepal's per capita income.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Financial Times 30% BBC 30% Kathmandu 40% Election Commission 50% Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) ×260% Sharma KP Oli ×580% Balendra Shah (Balen) ×790% Nepal ×10100%

Keywords

balendra shah 100% nepal 100% election 90% prime minister 80% sharma kp oli 70% gen z 70% rsp party 60% political protests 60% youth vote 60% political change 50%