Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, 35, has been sworn in as Nepal’s prime minister following a decisive victory in the country’s first election since last year’s youth-led protests.
According to a foreign news agency, Shah secured a commanding mandate amid a political crisis that followed public demonstrations against corruption, defeating former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
His party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party, gained a clear majority in parliament, placing him among the youngest prime ministers in the world.
Shah previously served as the Kathmandu's mayor. He rose to prominence among younger voters through social media and his rap music, and maintained a firm stance against corruption.
The former prime minister has also been taken into custody over allegations linked to deaths during Gen Z-led protests.
Shah’s ascent marks a significant shift in Nepali politics, as his pledge of reform found support among voters disillusioned with corruption, nepotism and entrenched elite rule.
