Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen, has been sworn in as Nepal's prime minister following a landslide victory in the country's first elections since last year's youth-led protests. The 35-year-old Shah's rise marks a significant shift in Nepali politics, with his promise of change resonating among an electorate angry at corruption, nepotism, and elite rule, in a vote that came after widespread unrest.
Shah's political career began with his tenure as mayor of the capital Kathmandu, where he implemented reforms to clean up the city, preserve indigenous heritage, and crack down on corruption. However, his campaign to bulldoze illegal buildings and heavy-handed actions against street vendors drew criticism from human rights groups. Partnering with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Shah scored a decisive victory in this month's general elections, even unseating former prime minister KP Sharma Oli in his long-held constituency.
Shah's election campaign was characterized by an unconventional style, largely avoiding the spotlight and media interviews, instead communicating with voters through social media posts where he pledged a sweeping anti-corruption agenda, judiciary reforms, and the creation of 1.2 million new jobs. Critics argue this strategy allowed him to evade public scrutiny of his record. Shah also referenced last year's protests, in which 77 people died, many of them protesters shot by police.
As the new prime minister, Shah and his party face high expectations from voters hungry for change, along with a host of challenges including the war in the Middle East (where millions of Nepalis work), chronic unemployment and a stuttering economy within Nepal, and the RSP's lack of experience in governance. Additionally, the Nepali government released a report from a commission investigating last year's uprising, recommending the prosecution of former prime minister Oli, but the implementation of these recommendations will be up to the newly elected RSP government.
Source: www.bbc.com