On veteran rival's turf, Nepal's rapper-turned-leader takes a swing at power

DAMAK, Nepal – Everybody wants a photograph with Balendra Shah.

The rapper-turned-politician—better known as Balen—who is dominating Nepal’s electoral race, was surrounded by supporters in the country’s east last week ahead of the March 5 election that could prove pivotal for the Himalayan nation, sandwiched between China and India.

“I am here to see Balen, even though I have a fever,” said a seven-year-old girl, seeing the centrist Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) prime ministerial candidate for the first time.

Next to her, a middle-aged woman admitted she left a heart check-up midway just to take a photo with Shah, the former mayor of Kathmandu who was catapulted into national politics last September after historic youth-led protests swept the country.

The “Gen Z” demonstrations, fueled by public anger over corruption and unemployment, left 77 people dead and forced then-Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign.

Now, Shah is challenging the four-time prime minister on Oli’s home turf in the Jhapa district, where the 74-year-old has won six times during his long political career.

If Shah and the RSP manage to take power, it could shake up Nepal’s political landscape, long dominated by parties led by Oli and his generation of veterans. Analysts say widespread disenchantment with traditional parties has fueled Shah’s rise.

These established parties—including Oli’s Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist or UML), the Nepali Communist Party formed from former Maoist rebels, and the centrist Nepali Congress—have shared power for decades but failed to deliver results, leaving many voters frustrated.

Still, these parties retain influence in some areas, such as Kavrepalanchok, where 38-year-old Raju Rasaili will cast his vote.

“In my village, there are loyal supporters of both the Maoists and the CPN-UML. People don’t easily let go of that kind of political loyalty,” he said.

Back in Damak, Bipana Oli—a 25-year-old migrant worker in Kuwait with no relation to the former prime minister—said she made her choice before flying home to vote.

“How long I continue working in Kuwait will depend on Balen’s victory and the job opportunities he creates,” she said.

A Different Campaign Style

Around Shah, crowds of supporters swirled, each getting about 10 seconds for a photo. Some shook his hand or exchanged brief words before being ushered aside by his photographer.

Since resigning as Kathmandu mayor and joining the RSP in January, Shah has campaigned aggressively across nearly 50 of Nepal’s 77 districts.

But his approach is unconventional. He often drives himself, stopping spontaneously to greet shopkeepers, farmers, and students. On one occasion in Kamal town, he walked into a wedding uninvited, greeted guests, and moved on, according to campaign aide Surendra Bajgain.

“It’s spontaneous, instinctive, not strategic,” Bajgain said.

Shah has largely avoided mainstream media, instead relying on social media—where he has millions of followers—to amplify his message.

“Campaigning is easy,” Shah told Reuters. “It was more challenging when I ran for mayor because I was alone. Now, I have a party and a team supporting me.”

The team carries laptops to campaign events to document public grievances, including unfinished projects and voter priorities. These are compiled into “Promise Letters” that Shah distributes along the trail, according to Subhas Basnet, one of the note-takers.

Not all voters are convinced. Mahesh Rai, 35, suggested Shah adopt his rival Oli’s method of visiting homes directly. Shah quietly nodded and replied: “Okay.”

Oli’s Traditional Campaign

Meanwhile, Oli travels in a convoy of more than 20 cars, some with flashing lights. In Jhapa’s rural Gauriganj, a plastic table and chair are set in a village square for him to greet residents.

“In previous elections, I did not always have time to meet people personally,” Oli told Reuters. “This time, the campaign is structured to allow direct interaction.”

But not everyone is impressed. Singheswar Prasad Rajbanshi, 85, bluntly told Oli: “Many years ago, you came here seeking my vote while I rested on my daybed. I supported you. But after that, I never saw you again until now.” -Writing by Devjyot Ghoshal; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan/Reuters