Rapper-turned-politicianBalendra Shah'snewly formed Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is heading towards a sweeping victory inNepal's first general electionsheld after the violent Gen Z protests that overthrew the KP Sharma Oli-led government. "Sarvapratham, Mata Janaki ke pranaam," said Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen Shah, when he started his Prime Ministerial campaign from Nepal's Janakpur.

It was rare in Nepal for a prime ministerial candidate to begin his campaign from Janakpur, instead of the capital, Kathmandu. Another shocker to the world was his Maithili speech, a language mainly spoken in Bihar and parts of Nepal. Dressed in his signature black attire and sunglasses, Balen Shah has been touring the country, with supporters often lining up to greet him.

Balen Shah, being seen as a front-runner for the top post in Nepal, was elected mayor of the capital, Kathmandu, in 2022. He later left the post to become the National Independent Party’s candidate for prime minister.

Balendra Shah, right, former mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City and prime ministerial candidate of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, joins Rabi Lamichhane, left, the party's president, during an election campaign rally in Lalitpur

The 35-year-old Shah trained as a structural engineer and later gained modest fame as a rap artist, using his music to take on social issues and politics.

Shah won the Kathmandu mayor’s race as an independent, riding a wave of public anger toward traditional political parties. He drew praise for clearing illegal vendors, tackling the city’s chronic garbage problem and pushing road expansions, but also faced criticism for ordering the demolition of homes and properties without adequate planning or notice.

“Our agenda is that the poor people who have no money in their pockets should get a full education. The poor people with empty pockets should get access to the health facilities. That is our agenda,” he told his supporters in western Nepal last week.

The Gen-Z protesters had rallied behind Shah during the protest that overthrew the Oli government; however, Balendra Shah had thrown his weight behind interim prime minister Sushila Karki.

Balendra Shah before casting a vote in the Nepal general elections in Kathmandu

According to the latest Election Commission data shared on Saturday, the RSP has won 18 seats and is ahead in 99 others.

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