Nepal's rapper-turned-mayor challenges ousted PM

This combination of pictures created on January 20, 2026 shows Rastriya Swatantra Party election candidate and Kathmandu's former mayor Balendra Shah (L) addressing supporters during a campaign rally in Janakpur on January 19, 2026 and Nepal's prime minister K. P. Sharma Oli waving after casting his vote in an election for the country's new president in Kathmandu on October 28, 2015. - AFP

KATHMANDU: Nepal's rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah will go into a head-to-head election battle with the veteran prime minister he helped unseat, as he champions youth demands that toppled last year's government.

The 35-year-old resigned last week as mayor of Kathmandu to contest general elections, announcing Tuesday (Jan 20) that he will directly challenge ousted prime minister K. P. Sharma Oli by running in the same constituency.