Balen Shah: Rapper-Mayor to PM Candidate, Leads New Nepal Alliance

• Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah, 35, declared prime ministerial candidate for a new alliance ahead of Nepal's 2026 parliamentary elections.
• Shah's alliance includes Rabi Lamichhane's Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and Kulman Ghising's Ujyalo Nepal Party (UNP).
• Balen Shah will contest under RSP's 'Bell' election symbol; Lamichhane remains party president, and Ghising becomes vice-president.
• The alliance champions the Gen Z movement against corruption and poor governance, which led to former PM Oli's resignation.
• Balen Shah, a rapper and structural engineer, was elected Kathmandu Mayor independently and previously banned Indian films.

Why It Matters: Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah, a former rapper, is now the prime ministerial candidate for a new political alliance in Nepal.