Balendra Shah, Nepal's youngest prime minister and former rapper known as Balen, was sworn in on Friday following his party's landslide victory in the March 5 elections. His Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) secured a commanding majority of 182 seats in the 275-member parliament, marking a significant shift in Nepali politics.
Key Takeaways
Balendra Shah, Nepal's youngest prime minister and former rapper known as Balen, was sworn in on Friday after his party won a landslide victory in March elections. His RSP secured 182 seats out of 275.
- Ex-rappper Balendra Shah takes office as Nepal's PM
- His Rastriya Swatantra Party wins majority with 182 seats
- Shah releases rap song calling for national unity before swearing-in
- Youth-driven campaign promises anticorruption and job creation
Shah released his first public statement since winning the elections with a rap song shared on social media. The song emphasizes unity and resonated with voters angry at corruption, nepotism, and elite rule. His rise to power comes six months after a deadly youth uprising that toppled the previous government.
The 35-year-old's campaign focused on youth-driven political change, promising anticorruption measures, judiciary reforms, and job creation. The RSP won decisively against established parties like the Nepali Congress and KP Sharma Oli's Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist). Shah even unseated Oli in his own constituency.
Shah's tenure as mayor was marked by efforts to clean up Kathmandu, preserve indigenous heritage, and crack down on corruption. However, he faced criticism for heavy-handed actions against street vendors. His political novelty has drawn both support and scrutiny, with analysts noting the challenges ahead in managing expectations and implementing reforms.
The outgoing interim prime minister, Sushila Karki, expressed confidence that Shah's government will work towards ending corruption and establishing good governance. The new administration also faces the task of addressing the findings of an investigation into last year's uprising, which recommended prosecuting former prime minister Oli and other officials.
Hours before his swearing-in ceremony, Shah rapped in Nepali: 'The strength of unity is my national power.' The video quickly garnered tens of thousands of views on social media. Karki also announced that a report detailing the findings of her investigation into last year's uprising would be released soon.
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