Rapper-Engineer Balen Shah sworn in as Nepal’s youngest PM

Thirty-five-year-old rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, widely known as Balen Shah, was sworn in as the 47th Prime Minister of Nepal on Friday. The oath of office was administered by President Ramchandra Paudel at 12:34 PM local time during a ceremony held in Kathmandu,according to information.
Shah, the youngest prime minister in the country’s history, assumed office following a landslide electoral victory by his party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party, in the March 5 polls. The party secured nearly two-thirds of the seats in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Parliament.His swearing-in coincided with the festival of Ram Navami, which marks the birth of Lord Rama, adding symbolic significance to the occasion in the Himalayan nation.

STORY | Balendra Shah Balen is now Nepal's youngest PM

Balendra Shah 'Balen' was on Friday appointed as the Prime Minister of Nepal, making him the youngest elected leader to hold the top executive post in the Himalayan nation.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Shah’s appointment reflected the trust of the Nepali people and expressed hope for closer cooperation. “I look forward to working closely with you to take India-Nepal friendship and cooperation to even greater heights,” he said.

A structural engineer by profession, Shah first rose to prominence as a rap artist before entering politics and eventually becoming the mayor of Kathmandu. He later emerged as a key political figure and prime ministerial candidate for the Rastriya Swatantra Party.His rise to power follows a period of political turbulence, including a youth-led uprising in September that led to the fall of the previous government. The protests, largely driven by Generation Z demonstrators, resulted in widespread unrest and casualties across the country.
While Shah did not directly participate in the protests, he publicly expressed support for the movement, which significantly boosted his popularity among young voters.With a strong mandate and widespread backing, Shah now faces the challenge of steering Nepal through political stabilisation and addressing the aspirations of a youthful population that played a decisive role in bringing him to power.