From Rapper to PM: Balen set to lead Nepal’s next government

Balendra Shah , popularly known as Balen , is set to be sworn in as Nepal’s youngest prime minister on Friday, March 27, 2026 , marking a historic moment as the first leader from the Madhes region to hold the country’s top executive post.

Balen, 35 , who rose to prominence as a rapper and former Kathmandu mayor, was the prime ministerial candidate of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) during the March 5 general elections . The party won 182 out of 275 seats in the House of Representatives, giving it a clear majority and the mandate to form a government.

The formal process begins on Thursday , when Balen will be sworn in as a member of the House of Representatives by Arjun Narsing KC , the eldest among the newly elected lawmakers. On the same day, the RSP will hold a central committee meeting to form its Parliamentary Party , which will formally elect Balen as its leader, qualifying him to assume the prime ministership .

The swearing-in ceremony at the President’s Office, Sheetal Niwas , will be attended by President Ramchandra Paudel , senior RSP leaders, newly elected members of Parliament, former prime ministers, and other high-ranking officials. While the ceremony is expected to remain low-key and traditional, no foreign leaders, including from India, are expected to attend .

Balen is likely to form a small cabinet of 15 to 18 ministers . His rise reflects a generational shift in Nepalese politics , following last year’s protests demanding change and a corruption-free governance system. In a decisive electoral victory, he defeated four-time prime minister K P Sharma Oli in the Jhapa-5 constituency, a traditional stronghold of Oli’s party.

Balen’s appointment marks a significant turning point in Nepalese politics, combining youth leadership, reformist ambitions, and representation from previously underrepresented regions .