Shah has emerged as a figure for Gen Z to look up to at a time when young Nepalis are seething with anger over alleged corruption and nepotism in the political establishment.
Published Sep 12, 2025 | 11:20 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 12, 2025 | 11:20 AM
Balendra Shah.
Synopsis: At a time when young Nepalis are seething in anger against the alleged corruption and nepotism in the political establishment and the government’s subsequent social media ban, Balendra Shah has emerged as their poised candidate.
“While we sell our identity abroad, government employees get a 30,000 salary and have properties in 30 different places. Who will pay the debt of people working seven seas away? People supposed to protect the country are idiots. Leaders are all thieves looting the country.”
These are the lines in Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah’s famous rap song named “Balidan“, meaning sacrifice. He appears in an all-black outfit, along with his trademark sunglasses. Shah is Gen Z’s preferred pick for the position of the next Prime Minister of Nepal.
Shah has emerged as a figure for Gen Z to look up to at a time when young Nepalis are seething with anger over alleged corruption, nepotism in the political establishment, and the government’s subsequent social media ban.
Meanwhile, it is interesting to note that the 35-year-old Kathmandu mayor has a Karnataka connection. He completed his master’s degree in structural engineering from Karnataka’s Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) between 2016 and 2018.
The fact has been making the rounds on Indian social media circles over the last few days, after Nepal’s Gen Z started to push for Shah’s elevation following the resignation of Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Oli.
“Balen, your time is now. Take control and lead us to greater good,” one such post on X said.
On Thursday, 11 September, Shah backed the name of former Chief Justice Sushila Karki to lead the interim government.
“The country is at a critical turning point,” Shah said in a Facebook post. Recognising the role of young people in shaping a better future, Shah urged them to be patient and avoid panic as the process of establishing an interim government begins, which will oversee upcoming elections.
“Dear Gen Z, tell me what kind of country do you want to see?” Shah asked in a post on Facebook on 7 September, a day before Nepal’s Gen Z began their protests.
He publicly expressed support for the protest at a time when international media reduced the unrest to little more than young people lashing out over restricted access to social media.
The core issues behind the movement – corruption, unemployment and poverty – have found space on Shah’s social media and in his music even before his induction as mayor.
His debut rap song, Sadak Balak (street kid), was released in 2012 on his YouTube channel. Shah sang about the hardships faced by children living on the streets of Kathmandu. From poverty and hunger to society’s indifference to these harsh realities, the song carried Shah’s personal observations from the streets.
In another song titled Nepal Haaseko, released in 2019, he says, “I want to see Nepal smile, I want to see the hearts of Nepalis frolic in joy, I want to see Nepalis live with happiness.”
In Balidan (2019), which quickly became his most popular song, Shah expresses his anger at the political leaders who stand united only when they have to use the state’s resources for their personal benefits. “They all get united when it comes to sharing the spoils but remain divided when it comes to doing something good for the country,” he sings.
He also sings about the condition of the streets in Kathmandu. “The main streets of Kathmandu are full of potholes; they warm their pockets and cheat the banks.” He also sings about the need for youngsters to speak against the government when it is wrong. “Government, let me speak up, speaking up is not a crime. I am good at heart, I do not fear to speak the truth,” sings Shah. The music video has over seven million views on YouTube.
These songs resonated with the youth of Nepal who were frustrated with the stagnant politics of the country.
Shah is also quite vocal on his platforms about the government’s alleged corruption practices. In April 2025, he alleged that there was policy-level corruption involved in the approval process of the Kathmandu Tower project.
In a more recent post, Shah, while referring to Oli, said, “You have become the father of your followers. If you had truly ever become a father, then you would have understood the pain of losing a son or daughter. The world had never seen such terrorism. You couldn’t even become a human, let alone a leader, you terrorist.”
From his past activities, it was evident that Shah always had a political ambition rooted in helping people. Following a devastating earthquake in Nepal in 2015 that killed more than 8,000 people, Shah had been active in post-disaster reconstruction efforts, working directly on the ground. Interestingly, his final-year project at VTU focused on earthquake-dynamic analysis.
During Nepal’s 2017 local elections, while still pursuing his master’s degree in structural engineering, he posted on Facebook: “I will not vote today. I am not a candidate; I am doing a master’s in structural engineering, but I know how to build a nation. I will vote for myself in the next election. I want my country to progress, and I cannot depend on anyone else for that.”
When Nepal’s mayoral election came in 2022, Shah decided to run independently. He had a landslide victory, receiving more than 60,000 votes in his favour. He defeated two rivals from established political parties — the ruling Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal.
His first decision after becoming the Mayor was to broadcast all municipal meetings live, allowing transparency between his administration and citizens. However, his term hasn’t been one without contention. One such issue that received backlash was his crackdown on street vendors.
Videos of vendors being chased, beaten and having their goods confiscated have made the rounds on social media, which drew strong criticism from human rights organisations that accused municipal police of using excessive force.
Despite the criticism, Shah’s popularity remains high, especially among Nepal’s rapidly growing young population. The country is currently experiencing what the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) describes as a “youth bulge”, or population dividend, a demographic phase where young people form the largest segment of society.
Recognising his influence, Shah was also featured in Time Magazine’s Top 100 Emerging Leaders of 2023. “He should be among the Gen Z representatives who hold talks with President Ram Chandra Poudel to chart the next steps for the Himalayan nation,” Balaram KC, a former judge of the Nepal Supreme Court and constitutional expert, told Reuters.
While the nation tries to limp back to stability, Gen Z will hope that a leader with no history of corruption and major political affiliation will take over their government. For now, Shah’s social media pages continue to remain abuzz with “Balen take the lead,” “Balen for prime minister,” “Next election is only for you.”
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
