A known figure. But an unknown character.
That is how many describe Balendra Shah, the current Mayor of Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital city.
Popularly known as “Balen”, the rapper-turned-mayor has now officially made his foray into national politics. Last week, he joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which has projected him as its prime ministerial candidate for the general election slated for March 5.
Until the run-up to the 2022 local elections, when Balen decided to throw his hat into the ring for the highly coveted post of Kathmandu Mayor, he was known largely within a limited circle, mostly among the youth, as a rap singer. His music spoke of the poor and the oppressed. Through his lyrics, he often took jabs at political parties and their leaders, resonating with young Nepalis disillusioned with mainstream politics.
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