Balendra Shah

Balendra Shah is a 35-year-old former rapper and mayor of Kathmandu who has emerged as a significant political figure in Nepal. He leads the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), a party founded just four years ago. Shah is newsworthy due to the RSP's landslide victory in the recent parliamentary election, the first since youth-led protests toppled the previous government in 2025. The RSP secured a near two-thirds majority in parliament, falling just short of a supermajority by two seats. Shah himself defeated former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli in Jhapa. This victory signifies a potential shift in Nepal's political landscape, driven by a powerful youth movement seeking change. The incoming government, led by Shah, is signaling a more pragmatic foreign policy, aiming for balanced relations with both India and China, focusing on national interests and economic diplomacy.