What is Balen Shah's net worth? Rapper-turned-mayor whom Nepal's Gen Z wants as next PM has an India connection

Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah is known for his rap music and has won over the hearts of Gen Z in Nepal. They now want him to lead the country as youth protests against the government, resulting in 19 deaths.

ALSO READ: Is Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah the new Prime Minister of Nepal?

Balen Shah, whose full name is Balendra Shah, has an India connection. He got his MTech in Structural Engineering from Visvesaraya Technological University, Karnataka.

What is Balen Shah's net worth?

Balen Shah is said to have a total net worth of 5 to 6 crore Nepalese rupees. He gets paid a monthly salary of Rs 46,000 for his mayorship. 

But that is not his only income. He has other earnings, including from his music career as well as his civil engineering profession, taking his monthly income to Rs 3 lakh. Balen is the managing director of Balen Consulting & Construction Pvt Ltd. As a rapper, Balen has appeared in TV shows and music videos.

Balen won the mayoral election in Kathmandu as an independent in 2022. He has openly backed the recent protests led by Gen Z.

The ongoing protests began after 26 social media platforms were banned following which the demonstrations turned against corruption. Protesters burnt government and party office, vandalised homes of ousted PM KP Sharma Oli and President Ram Chandra Paudel.

India has issued emergency contact numbers for its citizens stranded in Nepal, advising them to get in touch with the authorities in case of any emergency or need for assistance.

"All Indian nationals in Nepal are hereby requested to note the following telephone numbers from the Embassy of India, Kathmandu, for contact, in case they are facing any emergency situation or require assistance: 1. +977 980 860 2881 2. +977 981 032 6134," the Embassy of India in Nepal said in a post on X.

The Ministry of External Affairs urged Indians to avoid travelling to Nepal. "Indian citizens presently in Nepal are advised to shelter in their current places of residence, avoid going out onto the streets and exercise all due caution," it said.

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