Balen Shah draws global media attention as Nepal votes

KATHMANDU: International media outlets have placed strong focus on the growing popularity of Balen Shah, a senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party and a leading contender for Nepal’s prime ministership, following the country’s latest parliamentary election.

Nepal completed its first national election after the recent Gen Z Movement in Nepal, with early vote counting indicating a significant rise of the Rastriya Swatantra Party. Reports from several international news organizations have highlighted Shah’s emergence as a prominent political figure and the broader surge of youth-driven politics in the country.

The Associated Press reported that the election was conducted peacefully across Nepal, noting that Shah has emerged as an influential personality during the campaign. According to the report, Shah focused heavily on reforming the health and education sectors while addressing key demands raised during the Gen Z protests.

The report also noted that the next government will face major challenges, including responding to the demands of youth-led protests, tackling corruption, and maintaining a balanced relationship with Nepal’s two powerful neighbors, India and China.

Meanwhile, the BBC described corruption, economic hardship, and inequality as the central issues of the election. The British broadcaster reported that at least 77 people died during protests in September, highlighting the intensity of public dissatisfaction that preceded the polls.

The BBC also pointed to the closely watched electoral contest in Jhapa–5 between Shah and former prime minister K. P. Sharma Oli of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist). In its analysis, the BBC said a victory for Shah could deliver a major shock to Nepal’s long-criticized governance system.

“For more than three decades, Nepal has seen numerous coalition governments dominated largely by three major parties, two of them communist,” the report noted, adding that the election could determine whether a new generation of voters will reshape the country’s political future or whether traditional political heavyweights will retain power.

The The Guardian also covered the election under the headline “Nepalis vote in battle between powerful youth campaign and old guard.” The report noted a surge of young candidates promising to revive Nepal’s struggling economy, challenge veteran politicians who have dominated power for decades, and deliver stability and security.

Similarly, Reuters published a report titled “Voters seek change after youth-led protests,” describing Nepal as an agriculture-based economy grappling with unemployment and corruption. The agency noted that the Nepali Congress, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) have dominated national politics for decades, with governments changing 32 times over the past 35 years.

However, Reuters reported that the relatively new Rastriya Swatantra Party has emerged as a major challenger in this election, putting forward Shah — a rapper-turned-politician — as its candidate for prime minister.

Other international outlets have also highlighted Shah’s rise. Bloomberg described the race as a contest between a young rapper-politician and the country’s established leaders. Germany’s international broadcaster Deutsche Welle published an analysis titled “Gen Z hopes for real political reform,” noting that only about five percent of candidates belong to the Gen Z age group, defined as those born between 1997 and 2012.

Experts cited structural barriers, political culture favoring senior leaders, and perceptions that young candidates lack experience as reasons for the limited youth representation in the election.

In the days leading up to the vote, international media such as Al Jazeera, Financial Times, CBC News, and The Times of India had also reported on Shah’s popularity among Nepal’s younger voters.

Some reports also included criticism of Shah’s leadership. The UK’s The Telegraph reported that shortly after becoming mayor of Kathmandu, Shah faced controversy over clearing settlements along riverbanks, which critics said displaced poor residents.

As vote counting continues, analysts say the election could mark a turning point in Nepal’s political landscape, testing whether youth-driven demands for reform will translate into lasting political power.