US EditionNepal’s former rapper to run for PM in key vote after Gen Z protests
The Rastriya Swatantra Party alliance aims to capitalize on nearly 1 million new young voters added after anti-corruption protests that led to the prime minister's resignation.
- Balendra Shah, known as Balen, Kathmandu mayor, joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party on Dec 28, and two popular leaders formed an alliance ahead of the March parliamentary elections.
- Under the agreement, 35-year-old Balen would become prime minister if RSP wins the March 5 elections, and both leaders pledged to address demands from the Gen Z youth-led protests in September that left 77 people dead.
- Balen rose to prominence during the September Gen Z protests as an undeclared leader and helped form the interim government of former Chief Justice Sushila Karki to oversee the vote.
- Analysts called RSP's move strategic and warned traditional political parties face pain losing young voters to RSP, challenging Oli's Communist Party of Nepal and Nepali Congress party.
- Nearly one million new voters, mostly youth, joined rolls after protests as Nepal's election commission reports nearly 19 million eligible voters among 30 million population.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Balendra 'Ballen' Shah is known for his socially conscious music that addressed corruption, inequality and political stagnation in the country, which experienced a youth revolt in September Nepal's Prime Minister resigns after the Z generation's protests against the veto to social media The mayor of Kathmandu, Balendra 'Ballen' Shah, a rapper who has become a prominent voice among Nepal's youth for his anti-corruption speech, will be a candidate…
Balendra Shah has joined the Rastriya Swatantra party and thus entered the race for the post as Prime Minister of Nepal.
Philstar Global
Nepal's former rapper to run for PM in key vote after Gen Z protests
Two popular leaders form alliance ahead of March 5 elections Dominant old parties likely to face tough challenge from new alliance Rapper-turn mayor is PM
Nepal’s former rapper to run for PM in key vote after Gen Z protests
Two popular leaders have formed an alliance ahead of March parliamentary elections in Nepal that will challenge the older parties which have dominated the Himalayan nation's politics for over three decades, party officials and analysts said on Monday.
Kathmandu. An agreement has been reached between Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSWP) President Ravi Lamichhane, Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Sah (Balen) and Ujjwala Nepal Party patron Kulman Ghising. The agreement has been reached to go together in the upcoming elections, said Sudan Gurung, a Jejani leader and Hami Nepal coordinator. ‘I left Kulman, Balen and Rabi together,’ he claims. Gurung has said that he is happy to be able to unite all three. Guru…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 45% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
