KATHMANDU, Feb 10, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Nepal's rapper-turned-mayor Balendra Shah is preparing for the biggest fight of his political life -- a head-to-head battle with veteran leader KP Sharma Oli in the former prime minister's own constituency. Born in Kathmandu in 1990, he was a schoolboy during Nepal's decade-long Maoist civil war between 1996 and 2006, which killed thousands and eventually ended the monarchy. Trained as a civil engineer, he first gained national attention through Nepal's underground hip-hop scene, releasing songs that railed against corruption and inequality. His music, which has drawn millions of views online, helped him cultivate a devoted following on social media -- a platform he continues to favour over traditional media for communicating with supporters. That popularity translated into a political shock in 2022, when Shah became the first independent candidate elected mayor of Kathmandu, stunning Nepal's entrenched political establishment.

Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha February 10, 2026 03:35 UTC