Former rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah is emerging as a powerful challenger to one of Nepal’s most influential political figures, seeking to convert his popularity among young voters into a broader national mandate.

Ahead of the March 5 election in the eastern district of Jhapa, large crowds gathered to see the 35-year-old former mayor of Kathmandu. Supporters lined up for selfies, with volunteers limiting each interaction to just a few seconds as many had travelled long distances to meet him.

Dressed in his trademark dark blazer and black sunglasses—popularly dubbed “Balen Shah glasses”—the charismatic candidate has come to symbolise a push for generational change in Nepali politics.

Shah is contesting the Jhapa-5 constituency against veteran leader KP Sharma Oli, the 74-year-old former prime minister who resigned last year after youth-led protests that left 77 people dead.

Once known for rap songs criticising corruption and political stagnation, Shah first gained prominence online before winning Kathmandu’s mayoral election in 2022 as an independent candidate. Now representing the Rastriya Swatantra Party, he is hoping the momentum of Nepal’s protest generation will propel him to a larger national role.