The week-long protests that led to Oli’s resignation were marked by widespread youth participation and a deadly police crackdown, with young protesters demanding accountability and transparency from Nepal’s government.
While Balen has not declared his candidacy for the top post, young demonstrators across the country are calling for him to step up and lead Nepal.
How Nepali PM KP Sharma Oli was forced to resign
The unrest began after
The decision backfired, sparking demonstrations nationwide that quickly escalated.
On Monday, the protests took a violent turn. Police attempted to suppress the demonstrations with aggressive measures, resulting in widespread chaos and tragic loss of life.
Reports indicate that at least 21
The crackdown also left more than 345 people injured, overwhelming hospitals across Nepal. In response, citizens rushed to donate blood, with volunteers queuing outside blood banks to help the injured.
As public anger mounted, the government’s position became increasingly untenable.
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On Tuesday, Oli
Observers have described the youth-led demonstrations as a force that has “swept away old ways of doing things,” signalling a possible shift away from entrenched political practices marked by corruption and nepotism.
Many political analysts are now urging leaders to guide Nepal forward through “peace, dialogue, and cooperation” rather than further confrontation.
How Balen reacted to the protests
Throughout the crisis, Balen Shah has been a vocal supporter of the movement, although he has carefully positioned himself as an ally rather than a participant.
On Monday, he expressed his solidarity with the youth-led demonstrations through a Facebook post.
“The rally is clearly a spontaneous movement of Gen Z, for whom even I may seem old. I want to understand their aspirations, objectives, and thinking. Political parties, leaders, activists, lawmakers and campaigners should not be oversmart to use
— Balen Shah (@ShahBalen) September 7, 2025
The following day, after the prime minister’s resignation, Balen issued another appeal, this time calling for calm and urging demonstrators to avoid further violence or destruction.
— Balen Shah (@ShahBalen) September 9, 2025
“Please remain calm. The loss of national resources is our collective loss. It is now necessary for all of us to show restraint. From here onwards,
How Balen related to the youth through his rapping background
Before entering politics, Balen was widely known as a rapper, lyricist, and social commentator who used music to address deep-rooted social and political issues.
His songs, often performed in Kathmandu’s underground hip-hop scene, struck a chord with young Nepalese who were frustrated by corruption, inequality and lack of development.
One of his most popular songs, Balidan
In one of his earlier tracks, he rapped a line that has since become emblematic of his political outlook, “All those who protect the country are fools. All leaders are thieves, looting the country and eating it up.”
Demonstrators gather near the parliament during a protest against corruption and the government's decision to block several social media platforms, in Kathmandu, Nepal, September 8, 2025.
File Image/Reuters
Discussing his transition from music to governance, Balen once remarked, “There’s a diss culture in hip-hop. I used to diss politicians. Now, I am one.”
His unique background helped him connect with younger voters, who saw in him a leader who understood their frustrations and aspirations.
What we know about Balen Shah
Balen Shah was born on April 27, 1990, in Naradevi, Kathmandu, into a Maithil origin Madhesi family. He is the youngest son of Ram Narayan Shah, an Ayurvedic practitioner, and Dhruvadevi Shah.
The family originally hailed from Mahottari District in Nepal’s Madhesh Province but moved to Kathmandu after his father was assigned to work at the Naradevi Ayurvedic Hospital.
Balen attended VS Niketan Higher Secondary School before pursuing higher education in engineering. He earned a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Civil Engineering from Himalayan Whitehouse International College in Kathmandu.
Smoke rises as demonstrators gather to protest against Monday's killing of 19 people after anti-corruption
protests that were triggered by a social media ban which was later lifted, during a curfew in Kathmandu, Nepal, September 9, 2025. File Image/Reuters
He later travelled to India, where he completed a Master of Technology (MTech) in Structural Engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) in Karnataka.
He is married to Sabina Kafle who reportedly works in the health sector.
How Balen rose to become Kathmandu mayor
Balen entered mainstream politics in 2022, contesting the Kathmandu
Refusing to align with any of Nepal’s dominant political parties, he ran a grassroots campaign that highlighted transparency, accountability, and practical solutions to the city’s problems.
At just 33 years old, Balen achieved a historic win, becoming the first independent candidate elected as mayor of Kathmandu.
He secured over 61,000 votes, defeating powerful rivals from well-established political families and signalling a major generational shift
Demonstrators shout slogans as they gather to protest against Monday's killing of 19 people after anti-corruption protests that were triggered by a social media ban which was later lifted, during a curfew in Kathmandu, Nepal, September 9, 2025. File Image/Reuters
On the campaign trail, Balen cultivated a distinctive image that set him apart: a black blazer paired with jeans, square sunglasses, and the Nepalese flag draped over his shoulders.
Even when critics
Once in office, Balen quickly moved to implement reforms. One of his first actions was to introduce live telecasts of municipal council meetings, giving residents unprecedented access to decision-making processes.
He also tackled Kathmandu’s long-standing garbage disposal crisis. On June 6, 2022, his administration reached an agreement with the Ministry of Urban Development to begin systematic waste
Later, on August 18, 2022, following a four-point deal between local communities and government representatives, Balen authorised private companies to manage the disposal of uncollected solid waste, significantly improving the city’s sanitation efforts.
How Balen as mayor is not without controversy
One of the most contentious issues involved his administration’s crackdown on street vendors. Human Rights Watch and other organizations accused municipal police of using excessive force, citing videos that showed
Critics argued that such actions disproportionately affected the urban poor, especially given that nearly half of Nepal’s economy relies on informal businesses.
In September 2023, activist Iih staged a dramatic protest, standing outside Kathmandu City Hall for 199 hours to demand that vendors be allowed to operate until a fair alternative could be developed.
The protest drew support from prominent figures, including Kathmandu's four-time MP
In response, Balen defended his policies, stating on Facebook that he was enforcing laws passed by lawmakers like MP Gagan Thapa.
Ultimately, the standoff ended in a compromise. The city agreed to issue temporary permits for designated areas and times, develop long-term solutions for street vending, and return confiscated goods to their rightful owners.
Balen also faced national headlines when he banned
The ban prompted a legal battle, with the Patan High Court issuing an interim order against his decision.
Initially, Balen defied the ruling, taking to Facebook to accuse both the federal government and the courts of acting under Indian influence. His defiance sparked a writ petition in the Supreme Court accusing him of contempt of court.
The next day, Balen reversed his
Unlike many city mayors whose influence rarely extends beyond municipal boundaries, Balen’s popularity has grown nationwide and even internationally.
With inputs from agencies
