Who is Balendra Shah, frontrunner for Nepal PM post after KP Sharma Oli’s sudden resignation

The homes of Nepal’s Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and several other political leaders were set on fire as protests spread across the country, despite a strict curfew. The party headquarters of the ruling Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) or CPN (UML) and Nepali Congress in the Kathmandu Valley were also defaced and set on fire. Oli has now stepped down from his post. The unrest which is being called the “Gen Z protests”, is largely led by young people under the age of 28. A day earlier, thousands had gathered outside Parliament, many of them still in their school uniforms. Violence broke out after police opened fire on the crowd, leaving 19 protesters dead. In response, Nepal’s Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak resigned, saying he was taking moral responsibility for the tragedy.

Who is Balendra Shah?

Balen Shah, the 15th Mayor of Kathmandu, is not just a politician but also a civil engineer and rapper. In 2022, he made history by winning the mayoral election as an independent candidate. For many young Nepalis, he represents hope and change. When Balen won the mayor’s seat, people began to see him as a possible prime minister in the future. His success also encouraged more independent candidates to step into politics. One clear outcome of this new energy was the rise of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), led by Rabi Lamichhane, which won 21 seats in Nepal’s Lower House of Parliament.

This has brought fresh excitement to politics in Nepal, but questions remain about whether independents like Balen and others can manage the larger, more complex challenges of running a national government.

During his time as mayor, Balen Shah is widely credited with bringing notable improvements to Kathmandu. He focused on cleaning the streets and ensuring footpaths were free and safe for pedestrians. He also worked to strengthen the monitoring of government schools and took firm action against private schools accused of evading taxes. Above all, his greatest strength has been his clean image and strict zero-tolerance policy against corruption, which has earned him deep respect and strong public support.

In 2023, Time Magazine named Balen Shah among the Top 100 emerging leaders, a recognition that also drew praise from international outlets like The New York Times. Recently, he expressed support for the ongoing Gen Z–led protests. Writing on Facebook, Balen said that although he could not take part in the demonstrations because of the age limit (under 28), his full sympathy and support were with the protesters. He also urged political parties and leaders not to misuse the movement for their own interests.

 

News