Vote counting is still underway in Nepal’s general election, but early results indicate that rapper-turned-politician Balen Shah has taken a significant lead, raising the possibility that he could become the country’s next prime minister.
In Thursday’s election, Shah—who served as mayor of Nepal’s capital Kathmandu until January—contested against several prominent candidates, including former prime minister KP Sharma Oli of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) and Gagan Thapa of the Nepali Congress.
Preliminary counting as of Saturday morning shows Shah’s centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) leading in more than two-thirds of the 165 directly elected seats, according to reports from BBC Nepali. The Nepali Congress is trailing in second place, while the UML currently holds third position.
Final results may not be announced until next week. Vote counting in the mountainous country traditionally takes longer, as ballots from remote regions often need to be transported by helicopter. In the last general election in 2022, it took more than two weeks for the complete results to be declared.
Who is Balen Shah?
Balen Shah, widely known as “Balen,” is a 35-year-old trained infrastructure engineer who previously gained recognition in Nepal’s hip-hop scene. As an active member of the Nepali hip-hop movement known as “Nephop,” he released several songs carrying strong social messages. One of his most popular tracks, Balidan (meaning “Sacrifice”), has received millions of views on YouTube.
His popularity grew significantly among young voters following nationwide protests last year. The demonstrations initially began over restrictions on social media but soon expanded into wider public anger over corruption, unemployment and economic stagnation.
During the unrest, 77 people were killed—many reportedly by police gunfire. The protests eventually forced then-leader KP Sharma Oli to resign. Despite this, the 74-year-old veteran politician has again contested the election and remains confident of victory.
Shah openly supported the protesters during the demonstrations and at one point labeled Oli a “terrorist,” accusing him of betraying the country. Such strong remarks prompted critics to question whether Shah has the experience and temperament required to lead the nation.
As mayor of Kathmandu, Shah gained attention for strict measures aimed at clearing city roads and cracking down on illegal businesses. His administration used police action against street vendors and landless settlers, drawing criticism from several human rights groups.
Members of Shah’s campaign team did not respond to requests for comment on these issues.
Shah is contesting from Jhapa-5, a constituency traditionally considered a stronghold of KP Sharma Oli. Early vote counts indicate Shah is ahead by a notable margin.
During the campaign, Shah largely avoided media interviews and declined to speak with journalists on election day. Wearing his signature black sunglasses, he quickly passed through reporters without giving comments. Some Nepali media outlets have expressed concern that such reluctance to engage with the press could continue if he assumes power.
Despite this, many young voters say the country needs fresh leadership and energy. For them, Shah represents the possibility of a new political chapter for Nepal.
What Did Nepalese Voters Decide?
Alongside choosing the country’s next leadership, voters also cast ballots to elect 275 members of Nepal’s parliament.
The electoral system combines the first-past-the-post method and proportional representation. Each voter casts two ballots—one for a direct constituency candidate and another for a political party.
A total of 165 lawmakers are elected directly through the first-past-the-post system, where the candidate receiving the most votes wins the seat. The remaining 110 seats are allocated proportionally based on the national vote share received by political parties.
Nearly 19 million citizens were eligible to vote in this election. Officials estimate voter turnout at around 60 percent.
Why This Election Matters
Following last year’s protests, the election has widely been seen as a contest between Nepal’s established political leadership and emerging new forces.
The Rastriya Swatantra Party, currently leading in early results, finished fourth in the 2022 general election. This year, however, the political landscape has shifted significantly.
Young voters—around 800,000 of whom were casting ballots for the first time—formed a key electoral group. Political parties attempted to attract them with promises of job creation, anti-corruption measures and improved governance.
For more than three decades, Nepal has experienced frequent changes of coalition governments led primarily by three major parties, including two communist parties. This time, however, no major national alliances were formed, allowing voters to express clearer preferences for individual parties and candidates.
The election also saw a surge of new political parties and fresh faces, with roughly one-third of the candidates running as independents.
These developments suggest that many Nepalese voters are searching for new ideas and leadership that better reflect their aspirations.
If Balen Shah ultimately secures victory, analysts say it could mark a dramatic shift in Nepal’s political landscape—potentially ending decades of unstable coalition politics dominated by the same traditional leaders.
