Prime ministerial candidate Balendra Shah, who won the general election in Nepal [AFP Yonhap News]

Balendra Shah (36), the prime ministerial candidate for the centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) which achieved an overwhelming victory in Nepal's general election, is drawing attention. The election was the first since the 'Gen Z anti-government protests' last year, which resulted in the deaths of over 70 people. Shah is expected to become the next prime minister.

According to local media outlets such as The Kathmandu Post on the 8th (local time), former Mayor Shah secured over 68,300 votes in the Japa-5 constituency in eastern Nepal, defeating former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli (over 18,700 votes) by a significant margin.

Upon confirmation of his victory the previous evening, former Mayor Shah drove through the streets of his constituency in his signature black sunglasses, waving to cheering residents.

The RSP, which nominated him as its prime ministerial candidate, has also won in 106 out of 165 constituencies as of the afternoon of the 8th, and is currently leading in 19 constituencies where vote counting is still underway. The party is heading towards an overwhelming victory, potentially securing 125 seats (75.8%).

Foreign media outlets have reported this as a surprising victory for former Mayor Shah, who first entered politics after being elected as the mayor of Kathmandu in 2022.

Nepal's prime ministerial candidate Balendra Shah responding to election victory congratulations On March 7 (local time), Balendra Shah (36), former mayor of Kathmandu and a candidate in the general election for the Japa district in eastern Nepal, waves to supporters from his car after winning his constituency. [Reuters Yonhap News]

According to Reuters, AFP, and other news agencies, Shah was born into a family in Kathmandu in 1990, where his father was a traditional medicine practitioner. He showed talent in poetry from a young age.

As he grew, Shah became influenced by famous American rappers like Tupac and 50 Cent, developing a passion for rap. He earned bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering in Nepal and India. However, he rose to prominence as a rap star by releasing music critical of the corruption and inequality of the ruling class in Nepal's underground hip-hop scene.

One of his representative songs, 'Balidan' (Sacrifice), features the lyrics "I am not afraid to speak the truth" and has garnered over 12.8 million views on YouTube, a remarkably high number for a Nepali artist.

Through these activities, Shah garnered millions of followers on social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube, engaging directly with young Nepalis and consequently developing an interest in politics.

This led to his unprecedented victory in the 2022 Kathmandu mayoral election, propelled by the support of young voters.

During his tenure as Kathmandu's mayor, Shah focused on addressing chronic issues such as the waste management system, improving traffic control, and ensuring healthcare services. His efforts to solve urban infrastructure and livelihood problems earned him nationwide popularity.

However, his administration also faced backlash from human rights organizations for forcibly evicting street vendors using police force to resolve the issue of illegal occupation of public land.

In September of last year, amidst large-scale protests by 'Gen Z' youth against the corruption of the left-wing coalition government led by former Prime Minister Oli, Shah emerged as a protest leader through his active social media engagement.

Subsequently, in December of last year, he joined the RSP, a fledgling party founded in 2022 by Ravi Lamichhane (49), a former television host who gained popularity through his anti-corruption campaigns.

Puranjan Acharya, a political commentator in Nepal, explained to Reuters that "What makes Balen special is his consistent communication with young people through short messages on social media."

In a bold move, Shah resigned from his Kathmandu mayoral position in January to run in the general election. He chose the Japa-5 constituency, the stronghold of former Prime Minister Oli who served four terms, instead of his home base of Kathmandu.

In an interview with AFP during the election campaign period, he stated that he made this choice to compete against major figures rather than taking an easier path.

Shah described the ideology shared by him and the RSP as a "liberal economic system with social justice," which includes free education and healthcare for the poor.

"The top priority for Gen Z is good governance, because the level of corruption in this country is high," he said.

He added, "Music is a medium to express myself," and "I will continue my music activities even if I become prime minister."

Regarding Shah's future, Acharya predicted that "Becoming prime minister will not be a 'piece of cake'," and emphasized the importance of surrounding himself with competent individuals to reform corruption.

"He will need a team, experts, and support," Acharya commented. "Under the current state apparatus, he will not be able to perform his duties properly and will end up broken, like wood attacked by termites."