Balendra Shah

Balendra Shah (born 27 April 1990) popularly known as Balen is a Nepalese politician, structural engineer, and rapper who is the prime minister-designate of Nepal, following his party's landslide victory in the 2026 Nepalese general election. He is set to become the first Madheshi origin prime minister of Nepal by the formation of his cabinet. He previously served as the 15th mayor of Kathmandu from 2022 to 2026, the first independent candidate to hold the office. In the 2022 local election, Shah was elected mayor of Kathmandu; during his tenure, he introduced initiatives in waste management and traffic management. 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. During his tenure as mayor, Shah also promoted Greater Nepal irredentism, claiming parts of northern India and North Bihar that were once part of the Kingdom of Nepal, following the Nepalese land captures by British India after the Sugauli Treaty. Shah emerged as a prominent political figure during the 2025 Gen Z protests. In January 2026, he resigned as mayor of Kathmandu and joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) to contest the 2026 general election as the party's prime ministerial candidate. He defeated former Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli in Jhapa 5 by a landslide, leading his party to a historic majority victory.