Balen Shah facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Balendra Shah
वालेन्द्र शाह
Official portrait, 2026
Prime Minister of Nepal
In office
Assuming office 14 March 2026
President	Ram Chandra Poudel
Vice President	Ram Sahaya Yadav
Succeeding	Sushila Karki (interim)
Member of Parliament, Pratinidhi Sabha
Assuming office 7 March 2026
Succeeding	K. P. Sharma Oli
Constituency	Jhapa 5
15th Mayor of Kathmandu
In office 30 May 2022 – 18 January 2026
Deputy	Sunita Dangol
Preceded by	Bidya Sundar Shakya
Succeeded by	Sunita Dangol (acting)
Personal details
Born	Balendra Shah (1990-04-27) 27 April 1990 (age 35) Kathmandu, Nepal
Political party	Rastriya Swatantra Party (2025–present)
Other political affiliations	Independent (2022–2025)
Spouse	Sabina Kafle ​ (m. 2018)​
Children	1
Parents	Ram Narayan Shah Dhruvadevi Shah
Alma mater	Himalayan WhiteHouse International College (BE){br}Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology (MTech)
Profession	Politician rapper structural engineer

Balendra Shah (born 27 April 1990), often called Balen, is a Nepali politician and former rapper. He is currently the Prime Minister of Nepal, taking office after his party won the 2026 Nepalese general election. He is the first Prime Minister from the Madheshi community. Before this, he was the 15th Mayor of Kathmandu from 2022 to 2026. He was the first independent candidate to become mayor of the city.

Balendra Shah comes from a Madheshi family from the Mithila region. He was active in Nepal's hip-hop music scene since 2012. During his time studying in India, he became interested in ideas about fairness and equality.

As Mayor of Kathmandu, he worked on improving waste management and traffic management. His time as mayor also involved efforts to organize city structures and public spaces. In January 2026, he resigned as mayor and joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). He then ran for Prime Minister in the 2026 general election. He won by a large number of votes in Jhapa 5, leading his party to a big victory.

Early Life and Education

Balen Shah was born on April 4, 1990, in Naradevi, Kathmandu. He is the youngest son of Ram Narayan Shah, an Ayurvedic practitioner, and Dhruvadevi Shah. His parents moved to Kathmandu from Mahottari District after his father started working at Naradevi Ayurvedic Hospital.

Shah studied at Alliance Academy and later at V.S. Niketan Higher Secondary School. He earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Himalayan WhiteHouse International College. He also completed a master's degree in structural engineering in India. During his university years, he learned about ideas of fairness and equality. He was also awarded a fellowship for his PhD studies in civil engineering. His research focused on preserving Newa heritage structures to help tourism and the economy.

Music Career

Shah has been part of Nepal's hip-hop music scene since the early 2010s. He released his first song, 'Sadak Balak', in 2012. This song talked about the challenges faced by young people in cities. In 2013, he became more well-known after joining the YouTube battle rap series Raw Barz.

His music often discusses important social topics. These include issues like corruption, inequality, and daily life in Nepali cities. A famous song, 'Balidan' ('Sacrifice'), criticized political corruption. It became very popular with young people online, helping him gain public attention before his political career.

In 2025, Shah performed the song 'Nepal Haseko...' for a Nepali film. He wrote, composed, and sang the track. It quickly became popular on YouTube after its release.

Shah in 2022

Mayor of Kathmandu (2022–2026)

Shah ran for mayor of Kathmandu promising to fight corruption and make the government more open. His campaign especially reached out to the Newar community in Kathmandu. He appeared on many shows and convinced people to vote for him. In the 2022 election, Shah won the mayoral race. He defeated candidates from the Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) parties.

Many people saw Shah's rise as a continuation of new political ideas. These ideas were first promoted by Ujjwal Thapa, who encouraged young people to get involved in public life. When Shah ran for mayor, many people who supported Thapa's ideas joined his campaign.

City Improvements and Services

On June 6, 2022, an agreement was made to start regular garbage disposal in Kathmandu. Shah later directed private companies to manage all solid waste.

During Shah's time as mayor, the city improved its streets. Tactile pavements were installed to help visually impaired citizens move around safely. New bus stops, inspired by traditional Nepali designs, were also built. The city introduced new bus routes and a smart ticketing system to make travel easier for everyone.

Balen Shah at Kathmandu Trash Collection Race Program 2022

Open Government

One of Shah's first actions was to broadcast city council meetings live. This was the first time such meetings were shown publicly in Kathmandu. His team also started an online system for building permits. They used digital signatures to make things faster and reduce chances of corruption.

Education Initiatives

Shah launched the "Textbook-Free Friday" program in community schools. This program helped students learn technical skills and join fun activities. He also asked private schools to offer scholarships to at least 10 percent of their students. This was in line with existing education laws.

Healthcare Support

Shah's administration provided money to improve hospitals. This included setting up modern operating theaters at Kanti Children's Hospital. They also worked to improve services at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital and Manmohan Transplant Centre.

Cultural Heritage

Shah's team expanded programs to support Kathmandu's cultural traditions. This included traditions like the Living Kumari, Bhairav, and Ganesh. Agreements were also made with Tribhuvan University to modernize city services. They also worked to preserve traditional water sources called hiti.

City Planning and Public Spaces

In 2022, Mayor Shah worked to clear buildings and structures that were built on public land without permission. He focused on commercial buildings in busy areas. The city gave businesses notice, and then began removing the structures. These actions were initially praised but later faced criticism for being too forceful.

As part of these efforts, Shah also tried to uncover the Tukucha River, which had been built over. He removed part of a cinema hall to reveal the river underneath. However, a court order stopped further work. Critics argued that the Tukucha was more of a drainage canal and that Shah's actions affected private property rights. In 2023, the High Court decided that the Tukucha was a river needing protection, but also upheld private property rights.

The Kathmandu Metropolitan Government, led by Shah, also worked to organize public spaces. This sometimes meant moving street vendors or people living in informal settlements. These actions led to discussions about how to best support everyone in the city. Organizations like Human Rights Watch raised concerns about the city's approach.

In September 2023, an activist named Iih protested outside Kathmandu City Hall. He asked the mayor to allow street vendors to work until a better plan was found. Many public figures supported this protest. Mayor Shah stated that he was enforcing existing laws. The protest ended with an agreement between the city and Iih. They agreed to develop a plan for street vendors and allow temporary permits in certain areas.

Map of Greater Nepal

In June 2023, Shah displayed a map in his office that showed Nepal's historical borders. This map included areas now in several Indian states. This led to discussions with India about historical maps and territories. Shah's action was seen as a response to a mural displayed in India's new Parliament building.

Temporary Ban of Indian Films

In June 2023, Mayor Shah temporarily stopped showing Indian films in Kathmandu. This happened after an Indian film included a dialogue that many people in Nepal found incorrect about Sita, a historical figure traditionally believed to be born in Janakpur, Nepal. A court later asked Shah to lift the ban, and he eventually did.

2025 Youth Protests

During youth protests in September 2025, Mayor Shah's actions were discussed. The Nepal Student Union filed a complaint against him. They accused him of not deploying fire engines to control fires. Shah rejected these claims. He stated that city teams worked around the clock to ensure public safety and protect buildings.

Prime Minister

2026 General Election

On December 28, 2025, Shah officially joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). He resigned as Mayor of Kathmandu on January 18, 2026. He then ran as the party's candidate for Prime Minister in the 2026 Nepalese general election. His joining came at an important time for the party, which had faced some challenges.

Political experts believed Shah's entry brought new energy to the RSP. He quickly became the party's main public figure. Unlike some other politicians, Shah used a kinder, more inclusive approach. He gained huge support from young Nepalis, women, Madheshi communities, and Nepalis living abroad. His campaign rallies attracted many people from all over Nepal.

Shah started his election campaign in Janakpur on January 19, 2026. He presented himself as a son of Madhesh. He chose to run in the Jhapa-5 area, directly challenging former Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli. This contest drew national and international attention.

In the March 5, 2026 general election, the RSP became a dominant force. They led in over 90 out of 165 directly elected seats. This success was widely credited to the public excitement Shah had created. The party led in all ten constituencies of the Kathmandu Valley. In Jhapa-5, Shah defeated Oli with 68,348 votes to Oli's 18,734. He was officially elected to the House of Representatives from Jhapa-5 on March 7, 2026.

Personal Life

Shah is married to Sabina Kafle, who works in public health. He lives with his wife and daughter in Gairigaun, Tinkune. Some sources say he follows Buddhist traditions.

Electoral History

2022 Kathmandu Mayoral Election

Balen Shah had been thinking about running for mayor since 2020. On December 17, 2021, he announced on Facebook that he would run as an independent candidate. His campaign focused on improving waste management, road traffic control, public services, fighting corruption, and preserving the city's cultural heritage.

Shah was elected on May 26, 2022, winning 38.6% of the votes. He defeated candidates from the Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) by over 23,000 votes.

Shah was sworn in as mayor on May 30, 2022. He also administered the oath of office to other members of the city assembly.

2026 Jhapa-5 Parliamentary Election

After his time as Mayor of Kathmandu, Shah resigned in January 2026. He joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and became its candidate for Prime Minister. Shah chose to run in Jhapa Constituency No. 5. He directly challenged former Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli, who had held that seat for many years.

Shah was officially elected to the House of Representatives from Jhapa-5 on March 7, 2026. He received his victory certificate the same day. He secured 68,348 votes, which was the highest vote total ever recorded in Nepal's parliamentary election history. Oli received 18,734 votes, giving Shah a winning margin of 49,614 votes.

Recognition

Shah gained international attention when Time magazine included him in its Top 100 list in 2023. His election as an independent candidate was seen as a new challenge to Nepal's traditional political parties.

See also

In Spanish: Balendra Shah para niños

• Rastriya Swatantra Party
• Rabi Lamichhane
• Mayor of Kathmandu
• 2022 Kathmandu municipal election
• 2026 Nepalese general election