Nepali rapper turned mayor is young people's favourite in political crisis

Balendra Shah, 35, a former rapper and composer who currently serves as the mayor of Kathmandu,popularly known as "Balen", attends Indra Jatra festival at Kathmandu Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal, September 6, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer

KATHMANDU (Reuters) -Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, an unusually youthful elected official in Nepali politics dominated by seasoned legislators,

has emerged as a favourite among young people to represent them in an interim government.