Balendra Shah (born 27 April 1990), popularly known as Balen, is a Nepalese politician, structural engineer, and rapper. He has served as the 40th prime minister of Nepal since 27 March 2026. His premiership comes following his party's landslide victory in the 2026 Nepalese general election. He is the first Buddhist 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 that 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. == Early life and education == Balendra Shah was born on 27 April 1990 in the Naradevi neighbourhood of Kathmandu into a Maithili Madheshi family of Buddhist origin. The youngest of four siblings, his father Ramnarayan Shah was an Ayurvedic practitioner while his mother Dhruvadevi Shah hails from the Dhanusha District. His parents moved to Kathmandu from Ekdara, Mahottari after his father was posted to Naradevi Ayurvedic Hospital. 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. He also received a master's degree (MTech) in structural engineering from Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology, Bengaluru (VTU), 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.' == 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. 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. Shah's music has been noted for its socially conscious themes, addressing issues such as corruption, inequality, and urban life in Nepal. 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. 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. == Mayor of Kathmandu (2022–2026) == Shah campaigned for mayor of Kathmandu on a platform of anti-corruption, transparency and accountability. The main target audience for his campaign was the Newar community of Kathmandu. He appeared on various podcasts and shows and convinced the audience to vote for him. In the election, Shah was elected mayor, defeating Nepali Congress candidate Srijana Singh and CPN (UML) candidate and former mayor Keshav Sthapit. 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. When Shah entered the 2022 mayoral race, several veterans of the Bibeksheel movement joined his campaign. === Infrastructure and public services === 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. Under Shah's administration, investments in street accessibility and cleanliness were implemented, 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 were constructed across the city. 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. === Transparency === 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. His administration also introduced an online building permit system and implemented digital signatures to enhance efficiency and reduce opportunities for corruption. === Education === Shah launched the "Textbook-Free Friday" programme in community schools to help students develop technical skills and engage in extracurricular activities. He also directed private schools in Kathmandu to provide scholarships to at least 10% of students, in line with existing education legislation. === 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. === 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. === Demolitions and evictions === In 2022, soon after being elected mayor, Shah embarked on a widespread demolition drive in Kathmandu, using bulldozers to tear down buildings and structures he said were on public land. He primarily targeted commercial buildings, including the Alfa Beta Complex in Baneshwor, the RB Complex in Khichhapokhari, the Suraj Arcade in New Road, and the underpass connecting Bhotahiti with Ratna Park. Kathmandu Metropolitan City gave these businesses a 35-day notice, and when the deadline expired, it immediately began demolishing the structures. The demolitions initially drew widespread praise from the public but were ultimately criticized for a high-handed approach and a lack of follow-ups after the initial demolitions. 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. 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. 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. As of 2026, the river remains unearthed on the premises of the Jai Nepal Cinema Hall, but no further conservation activity has taken place. 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. Following the attempt, squatters protested against the actions of Shah and the city officials, demanding alternative housing arrangement before being relocated. These demands were supported by activists who also asked Shah and the city to arrange for alternative housing before embarking on a demolition drive. 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. 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. 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. 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 Min