Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah, seen as a potential frontrunner to become Nepal’s next Prime Minister after former PM K.P. Sharma Oli stepped down, has a Karnataka connection. Shah earned his Master’s degree in Structural Engineering (M.Tech.) from Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Belgaum.
The 35-year-old, a civil engineer by training and a former rapper and composer, entered politics after his student years.
Shah is also known for banning the screening of the Hindi film Adipurush in Kathmandu. The movie, based on the Hindu epic Ramayana, referred to Sita — called Janaki in the film — as “India’s daughter.” Shah strongly objected, noting that Hindus in Nepal believe Sita was born in Janakpur, near Kathmandu.
In a 2023 post on X (formerly Twitter), Shah declared: “No Hindi film will be allowed to be shown in Kathmandu Metropolitan City until the words ‘Janaki is an Indian daughter’ in Adipurush are corrected not only in Nepal but also in India. Three days have been given to correct this.”
Shah was born in Kathmandu in 1990 to a Newar Buddhist family of Maithil Madhesi origin and was notable in the hip-hop scene. In 2022, he contested the Kathmandu mayoral elections as an independent candidate and won with over 61,000 votes, defeating rivals from established political parties.
The mayor has since built a strong following, particularly among Nepal’s Gen Z voters — those under 28 years of age in 2025.
In a post on X today, he wrote, “Dear Gen Z, your killer’s resignation has arrived. Now be patient! The loss of the country’s people and property means the loss of your and our property. Your generation will have to lead the country. Also, be prepared to negotiate with the army chief. But remember – Parliament must be dissolved before negotiations can take place.”
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Published on September 10, 2025
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