Balendra Shah
बालेन्द्र शाह
Shah in 2024
Member-elect of Parliament, Pratinidhi Sabha
Assuming office
TBD
Succeeding K. P. Sharma Oli
Constituency Jhapa 5
15th Mayor of Kathmandu
In office
30 May 2022 – 18 January 2026
Deputy Sunita Dangol
Preceded by Bidya Sundar Shakya
Succeeded by Sunita Dangol (acting)
Personal details
Born Balendra Shah
(1990-04-27) 27 April 1990 (age 35)
Naradevi, Kathmandu, Nepal
Party
  • Rastriya Swatantra Party (2025–present)
  • Independent (2022–2025)
Spouse
Sabina Kafle
​
(m. 2018)​
Education
  • Himalayan WhiteHouse International College (BE)
  • Visvesvaraya Technological University (MTech)
Profession
  • Politician
  • structural engineer
Known for First independent Mayor of Kathmandu

Balendra Shah[a] (born 27 April 1990) is a Nepali politician, structural engineer and former rapper. He served as the 15th Mayor of Kathmandu from 2022 until his resignation in 2026. He was the first independent candidate to be elected mayor of Kathmandu in the 2022 Kathmandu municipal election. He is the prime ministerial candidate for the Rastriya Swatantra Party in the 2026 Nepalese general election.

Born to a Maithili Madheshi family of Buddhist origin, Shah has been active in the Nepal hip-hop industry since 2012. He became involved in politics during his teenage years in Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) where he became influenced by political Buddhism and Ambedkarism. In the 2022 local election, Shah was elected mayor of Kathmandu, defeating Nepali Congress candidate Srijana Singh and CPN (UML) candidate and former mayor Keshav Sthapit. During his tenure as mayor, Shah introduced initiatives related to waste management and traffic management in Kathmandu. However, his administration also faced criticism and controversy over issues such as the demolition of illegally constructed structures, the handling of squatter settlements, and enforcement actions against street vendors.

Ideologically characterized as a populist, Shah emerged as a prominent political figure during the 2025 Nepali revolution. In January 2026, he resigned as mayor of Kathmandu and joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party to contest the 2026 Nepalese general election, defeating former Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli for the constituency of Jhapa 5 in a landslide.

Early life and education

Balen Shah was born on 27 April 1990 in Naradevi, Kathmandu to a Maithili Madheshi family of Buddhist origin.[1][2][3][4][5][6] He is the youngest son of Ram Narayan Shah, an Ayurvedic practitioner, and Dhruvadevi Shah.[7] His parents moved to Kathmandu from Mahottari District of Madhesh Province after his father was posted to Naradevi Ayurvedic Hospital.[4]

Shah studied at Alliance Academy and completed his SLC there. Shah attended V.S. Niketan Higher Secondary School for his 10+2 studies. He received a bachelor's degree (BE) in civil engineering from Himalayan WhiteHouse International College.[8] He also received a master's degree (MTech) in structural engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) in Karnataka, India. Shah was awarded a KU researcher's fellowship for his PhD studies in civil engineering from Kathmandu University on the topic, 'Conservation of Newa heritage structures to promote tourism and economy."[7]

Music career

Shah has been involved in Nepal's hip-hop scene since the early 2010s. He released his first single, 'Sadak Balak' in 2012 , which he had written back in the ninth grade, a track that reflected the hardships of urban youth and marked his entry into the Nephop (Nepali hip-hop) community.[9] His visibility grew in 2013 when he participated in the YouTube battle rap series Raw Barz, gaining recognition within Nepal's underground hip-hop community.[9]

Shah's music has been noted for its socially conscious themes, addressing issues such as corruption, inequality, and urban life in Nepal.[citation needed] A notable track is 'Balidan' ('Sacrifice'), which critiqued political corruption and connected with younger audiences, becoming widely known through online platforms and contributing to his public profile ahead of his political career.[10]

In 2025, Shah performed the song 'Nepal Haseko...' for the soundtrack of the Nepali film Laaj Sharanam. The track, which he wrote, composed, and performed, was originally released on his YouTube channel and was reissued for the film's promotion. It quickly entered the YouTube trending music charts following its second release.[11][12]

Political career

Shah in 2022

Mayor of Kathmandu (2022–2026)

Shah campaigned for mayor of Kathmandu on a platform of anti-corruption, transparency and accountability.[5][6][13][14] Some of his notable achievements are detailed below:[15]

Rastriya Swatantra Party and national political rise

On 28 December 2025, Shah formally unified with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), resigning as Mayor of Kathmandu on 18 January 2026 to contest the 2026 Nepalese general election as the party's prime ministerial candidate.[16][17] His entry came at a critical juncture for the party, which had been struggling under the shadow of its founder Rabi Lamichhane's numerous legal controversies, including charges of fraud and alleged misappropriation of funds in Nepal's cooperative sector.[18]

Political analysts widely credited Shah's entry with injecting new life into the RSP. "RSP, with its changed avatar after bringing in big names like Shah and Ghising, could reshape the electoral landscape," said political analyst Shree Krishna Aniruddha Gautam.[19] The merger agreement included a seven-point commitment addressing anti-corruption demands, Gen Z aspirations, and governance reforms, positioning the RSP as a major alternative to the traditional establishment parties.[20]

While Lamichhane retained the formal chairpersonship of the RSP, Shah rapidly emerged as the party's dominant public face and the principal source of its electoral momentum. Unlike Lamichhane, whose political style attracted significant controversy, Shah cultivated a softer, more inclusive approach drawing enormous support from across Nepal without resorting to divisive rhetoric or hate speech. His campaign rallies drew mass participation from young Nepalis, women, Madheshi communities, and diaspora supporters, reflecting a broad national appeal that transcended regional and ethnic lines.[21]

Shah made his electoral debut for the RSP at a rally in Janakpur on 19 January 2026, presenting himself as a son of Madhesh, having been born in Mahottari District and seeking to extend the party's reach beyond its urban base.[22] He chose to contest the high-profile Jhapa-5 constituency, directly challenging four-time former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in the latter's own stronghold a contest that drew national and international attention.[23]

In the 5 March 2026 general election, the RSP emerged as the dominant force in early vote counts, leading in over 90 constituencies out of 165 directly elected seats a result widely attributed to the wave of public enthusiasm Shah had generated.[24] The party led in all ten constituencies of the Kathmandu Valley, while its rivals the Nepali Congress, CPN (UML), and CPN (Maoist Centre) trailed far behind.[25] In Jhapa-5, Shah defeated Oli with 68,348 votes to Oli's 18,734.[26]

Legacy and impact

Balen Shah's tenure as the 15th Mayor of Kathmandu (2022–2026) marked a significant shift in the city's urban governance, leaving a visible imprint across infrastructure, public services, transparency, and civic culture.

Continuation of the Bibeksheel movement

Shah's rise as a political figure is widely regarded as a continuation of the spirit of alternative politics pioneered by the late Ujjwal Thapa, founder of the Bibeksheel Nepali party. Thapa, who died in June 2021 from complications related to COVID-19, had spent years building a movement that challenged Nepal's entrenched political establishment, motivated youths to enter civic life, and campaigned against corruption and social injustice.[27]

When Shah entered the 2022 mayoral race, several veterans of the Bibeksheel movement joined his campaign. Key figures included Bhupadev Shah, Sasmit Pokhrel, and Pradeep Gyawali — all with backgrounds in the Bibeksheel Sajha Party — along with Saurabh Neupane and Shishir Banjara.[28] "In the early days, Balen would arrive on a scooter with his brother, carrying a microphone and pamphlets," recalled Banjara. "Sometimes there were only five of us at a junction. As the mood changed, the crowds grew."

Sasmit Pokhrel, a BA-LLB graduate from Kathmandu University and formerly an active Bibeksheel Sajha cadre, served in the secretariat of Mayor Shah, advising on legal and educational matters.[29] Bhupadev Shah and Pradeep Gyawali were subsequently named secretariat members when Shah's team joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party ahead of the 2026 Nepalese general election.[30]

Milan Pandey, co-founder of the Bibeksheel Party, described the ideological thread connecting the two leaders: "He never felt represented by the old political style. He believed alternative forces could emerge if politics spoke the language of the people."[31] In December 2025, the Bibeksheel Sajha Party formally merged into the RSP, further consolidating Nepal's reform-oriented political forces in a trajectory that observers have linked to the movement Thapa originally ignited.[32]

Solid waste management

On 6 June 2022, an agreement was reached between the Ministry of Urban Development and the newly elected representatives to commence garbage disposal from 7 June and on 18 August 2022, following a four-point agreement between the locals and government officials, Shah directed private companies to handle the disposal of all uncollected solid waste.[33]

Urban Infrastructure and Public Spaces

Under Shah's administration, Kathmandu's streets became cleaner and more inclusive, with tactile pavements installed to allow citizens with visual impairments to navigate the city more freely. Falcha-style bus stops — structures inspired by traditional Newari resting places — also began appearing across the city.[34] The metropolitan government reorganised public parking in New Road and significantly improved the garbage collection system. New bus routes were introduced, bus stops were upgraded, and a smart ticketing system was implemented to provide a more reliable travel experience for commuters.[35]

Balen Shah at Kathmandu Trash Collection Race Program 2022

Transparency and Governance

As one of his first acts upon taking office, Shah introduced live telecasts of municipal council meetings — the first time such proceedings were broadcast publicly in Kathmandu's history.[36] His administration also introduced an online building permit system and implemented digital signatures to enhance efficiency and reduce opportunities for corruption.[37]

Accountability and rule of law

Shah launched a widespread demolition drive targeting commercial buildings and structures encroaching on public land, employing bulldozers against establishments such as the Alfa Beta Complex in Baneshwor and the RB Complex in Khichhapokhari.[38] His efforts to reclaim government land from illegal occupiers were noted by residents as a break from the long-standing culture of impunity in the city.

Education

Shah launched the "Textbook-Free Friday" programme in community schools, aimed at helping students develop technical skills and engage in extracurricular activities. He also directed private schools in Kathmandu to provide scholarships to at least 10 percent of students, in line with existing education legislation.[39]

Healthcare

Shah's administration committed Rs 90 million to establish modern operating theatres at Kanti Children's Hospital, improve outpatient services at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, and enhance coronary care at Manmohan Transplant Centre.[40]

Cultural heritage

Shah's administration expanded programmes supporting Kathmandu's intangible cultural heritage, including the Living Kumari, Bhairav, and Ganesh traditions. Agreements were also reached with Tribhuvan University to modernise municipal services and help preserve traditional water sources known as hiti.[41]

National and international recognition

Shah received international attention after Time magazine included him in its Top 100 list in 2023.[42] His election as an independent candidate was described by commentators as a challenge to the dominance of Nepal's established political parties.[43]

Controversies

Demolition drive in the city

In 2022, soon after being elected as mayor, Shah embarked on a widespread demolition drive in the city of Kathmandu, employing bulldozers to destroy buildings and structures that he said were infringing on public land. He primarily targeted commercial buildings like the Alfa Beta Complex in Baneshwor, RB Complex in Khichhapokhari, Suraj Arcade in New Road, and the underpass that connects Bhotahiti with Ratna Park.[44] Kathmandu Metropolitan City gave these businesses a 35-day notice and when the deadline expired, immediately began demolishing the structures. The demolitions initially drew widespread praise from the public but was ultimately criticized for a high-handed approach and a lack of follow-ups after the initial demolitions.[45]

As part of the demolition drive, Shah also sought to dig up the Tukucha (Icchumati) River, which had been built over in the past. He destroyed part of the Jai Nepal Cinema Hall and unearthed the river beneath its premises.[46] However, a stay order from the Patan High Court halted any further demolition activity. Critics claimed that the Tukucha was not a river per se but more of a drainage canal and that Shah's actions infringed upon the right to private property.[47] In 2023, the High Court eventually decided that while the Tukucha was a legitimate river and deserved protection, the same applied to the rights of private property holders.[48] As of 2026, the river remains unearthed on the premises of the Jai Nepal Cinema Hall but no further conservation activity has taken place.

Attempts to evict landless squatters

In November 2022, Kathmandu Metropolitan City attempted to evict landless squatters residing on the banks of the Bagmati River. The attempt resulted in a pitched battle between municipal workers and squatters that left over 21 injured.[49] Following the attempt, squatters protested against the actions of Shah and the city officials, demanding alternative housing arrangement before being relocated.[50] These demands were supported by activists who also asked Shah and the city to arrange for alternative housing before embarking on a demolition drive.[51]

Use of force towards street vendors

The Kathmandu Metropolitan Government, led by Shah, has faced criticism from organizations like Human Rights Watch due to allegations of employing disproportionate use of force against street vendors.[52] His policies have also led to the emergence of small-scale protests by social activists, triggered by the circulation of videos showing the municipal police chasing down, beating and confiscating vendors' properties.[53] Critics of Shah's crackdown on street vendors argue that since nearly half of the country's economy relies on informal businesses, such actions adversely impact the standard of living of the urban poor without offering viable alternative solutions.[54]

In September 2023, the political activist known as Iih stood for 199 hours outside Kathmandu City Hall, urging the mayor to allow street vendors to conduct business without interference until an alternative solution could be proposed. Support for the protest came from figures like Kathmandu-4 MP Gagan Thapa, former Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa, and former Finance Minister Surendra Pandey. Addressing the protest, Mayor Shah stated on Facebook that he was enforcing existing laws established by lawmakers such as MP Thapa. He also argued that restricting street vendors does not effectively address poverty and expressed concern about the injustice faced by those whose property had been confiscated during road expansion initiatives of the city. The protest concluded with an agreement between Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Iih, aiming to develop an alternative plan for street vendors, temporary permits for specific areas and times, and the return of confiscated goods to their owners.[55][56]

Comment inciting violence against Singha Durbar

In September 2023, Shah publicly threatened to burn down Singha Durbar, the administrative center of the federal government, on Facebook. His post came after his wife, Sabina Kafle, was stopped for a routine security check by traffic police while travelling in a vehicle with government plates.[57] Shah wrote, "Nothing happened today., but if any KMC vehicles are stopped tomorrow onwards, I will set the Singha Durbar on fire." The Facebook post was heavily criticized by civil society and political parties across the board for being insensitive and with the potential to incite violence against the federal government. After the controversy, Shah's personal advisor, Bhupdev Shah, released a press statement saying that Kafle was unnecessarily harassed while travelling to a hospital after suffering labor pains.[58] However, it later emerged that Kafle had already given birth a week prior and that the press statement was categorically false.[59]

In September 2025, after Gen Z protesters set fire to Singha Durbar, many social and political commentators recalled Shah's two-year-old threat, drawing links between the two events.[60]

Map of Greater Nepal

In 2023, Shah again courted controversy by placing a 'Greater Nepal' map in his office, drawing strong objections from India.[61] Greater Nepal is an irredentist concept claims territories beyond Nepal's present-day borders that were once under Nepali control before the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli — including areas now in several Indian states. Shah's display of the map was widely reported as a symbolic response to the controversy over a Maurya empire mural displayed in India's new Parliament building.[62]

Temporary ban of Indian films

In June 2023, Shah moved to ban the screening of all Indian films in Kathmandu after the Indian film Adipurush included a dialogue stating that "Sita is a daughter of India."[63] The dialogue sparked controversy in Nepal, where Sita from the Ramayan is traditionally believed to have been born in Janakpur, Nepal.[64] The ban was challenged at the Patan High Court, which ordered Shah to lift the ban. Shah initially refused but was forced to lift the ban.[65] Later, he once again took to social media, calling the federal government and the judiciary "Indian slaves". He maintained the ban despite a court order directing its removal.[66]

Offensive posts about neighboring countries and political parties

In November 2025, Shah once again posted on Facebook, targeting friendly countries like India, China, the United States, and various political parties like CPN (UML), Nepali Congress, Rastriya Swatantra Party, RPP, and the Maoists, cursing at them all using the profanity fuck.[67] The post was quickly deleted but not before it had once again invited criticism from across the board for harming Nepal's friendly relations with foreign countries and creating an atmosphere of hostility.[68]

Not sending fire brigades

After the Gen-Z protests in September 2025, the Nepal Student Union, the student wing of the Nepali Congress, filed a police complaint against Shah, accusing him of inciting violence and failing to deploy fire engines to control blazes ignited by protesters on buildings like Singha Durbar and the federal Parliament. Shah rejected these claims, stating that city teams worked around the clock to ensure public safety and protect infrastructure.[69]

Personal life

Shah is married to Sabina Kafle, a public health professional.[8] He lives with his wife and daughter in Gairigaun, Tinkune.[8] Balen Shah is a follower of Newar Buddhism.[70][71][72][73][74]

Electoral history

2022 Kathmandu mayoral election

Main article: 2022 Kathmandu municipal election

Balen Shah had been mulling over his plans for candidacy since 2020 and on 17 December 2021 announced that he would be running for the mayoral race as an independent candidate through his Facebook Page.[75][8] His campaign focused on waste management, road traffic control, public service delivery, anti-corruption, and preservation of cultural heritage of the city.[4]

Shah was elected on 26 May 2022, winning 38.6% of the votes cast. He defeated Nepali Congress candidate Sirjana Shrestha and former mayor and CPN (UML) candidate Keshav Sthapit by a margin of over 23,000 votes.[76]

Shah was sworn in as mayor on 30 May 2022 and administered the oath of office to other members of the municipal assembly elected at the elections.[77]

Mayoral elections result
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Balendra Shah 61,767 38.6% New
Congress Sirjana Singh 38,341 24.0% +1.1%
CPN (UML) Keshav Sthapit 38,117 23.8% −9.1%
Independent Suman Sayami 13,770 8.6% New
RPP Madan Das Shrestha 5,770 3.6% New
Others 2,141 1.3%
Total valid votes 159,906
Rejected ballots 31,280
Turnout 191,186 63.68% −9.04%
Registered electors 300,242 [78] +10.7%

2026 Jhapa-5 parliamentary election

Following his tenure as Mayor of Kathmandu, Shah resigned from his mayoral post in January 2026 and joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), becoming its prime ministerial candidate for the 2026 Nepalese general election.[79] Shah chose to contest Jhapa Constituency No. 5, directly challenging four-time former Prime Minister and CPN (UML) chairperson K. P. Sharma Oli in a seat Oli had held in every election since 2008 with the exception of the 2008 election; in the 2023 general election alone, Oli had won with 54,319 votes and a margin of 28,576.[80]

Shah was officially elected to the House of Representatives from Jhapa-5 on 7 March 2026 and received his victory certificate the same day. According to the final results published by the Election Commission of Nepal, Shah secured 68,348 votes — the highest vote total ever recorded in Nepal's parliamentary election history, surpassing the previous record of 57,139 votes set by Oli himself in the same constituency in 2017.[81][82] Oli received 18,734 votes, giving Shah a winning margin of 49,614 votes.[81]

2026 Jhapa-5 House of Representatives election result

Party Candidate Votes % ±%
RSP Balendra Shah 68,348 66.79% +54.27%
CPN (UML) KP Sharma Oli 18,734 18.31% −37.3%
Shram Sanskriti Samir Tamang 9,233 9.02% New
Congress Mandhara Chimariya 1,821 1.78% −23.51%
Others 4,202 4.10% −2.36%
Total valid votes 102,338
Rejected ballots 4,230
Turnout 106,568 63.68%
Registered electors 163,379

Awards and recognitions

Time magazine included Shah in "The 100 emerging leaders who are shaping the future" list of 2023.[83]

See also

  • Rastriya Swatantra Party
  • Rabi Lamichhane
  • Mayor of Kathmandu
  • 2022 Kathmandu municipal election
  • 2026 Nepalese general election

Notes

  1. ^ Nepali: बालेन्द्र शाह, romanized: bālendra śāha; IPA: [balendrʌ‿saha]

References

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