From Gen-Z protests to power: Balen Shah’s political earthquake in Nepal |
Nepal has rarely witnessed a political transformation as dramatic as the one unfolding today. In the aftermath of months of mass protests, violent confrontations, and deep frustration with entrenched political elites, the country has elected an unlikely figure to lead its government: Balendra “Balen” Shah, a 35-year-old former rapper, structural engineer, and mayor of Kathmandu. His landslide victory in Nepal’s latest general election signals more than a routine transfer of power. It represents a generational revolt against corruption, political stagnation, and a leadership class many citizens believe has failed them for decades.
The results speak for themselves. Shah’s Rastriya Swotantra Party (RSP) secured 182 out of 275 parliamentary seats-just two seats short of a two-thirds supermajority. Such a decisive mandate is rare in Nepal’s fragmented political landscape. More striking still was Shah’s personal victory over former four-time prime minister KP Sharma Oli in Jhapa-5, where he defeated the veteran politician by nearly 50,000 votes. The numbers underscore a sweeping rejection of the old guard and an embrace of a new, unconventional political figure.
Yet the story behind this election is not simply about one charismatic candidate. It is rooted in the upheaval that shook Nepal in September 2025, when the government’s controversial ban on social media triggered a nationwide protest movement dominated by young people. The demonstrations-often described as “Gen-Z protests”-rapidly expanded beyond the initial grievance. Anger over corruption, governance failures, and political arrogance fueled a broader uprising that eventually forced the dissolution of the House of Representatives.
The protests were not peaceful throughout. Clashes with security forces left more than 2,000 people injured and at least 77 dead, many reportedly shot during confrontations with police and military personnel. Government buildings, including the Supreme Court and parliament itself, were burned by enraged crowds. The scale of violence........