Balendra Shah[a] (born 27April 1990), more commonly known as Balen, is a Nepali politician and rapper who served as the 15th mayor of Kathmandu from 30 May 2022 until his resignation on 18 January 2026.[1] He was the first independent candidate to be elected as mayor of Kathmandu.[2]
As mayor, Shah's tenure included improvements to waste management and road traffic control but was also highly controversial for his high-handed approach to complex issues like squatter resettlement, demolition of illegally built private structures, and his administration's persecution of street vendors.[4] In January 2026, Shah resigned as mayor of Kathmandu and joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) to contest the 5 March 2026 general elections.[5]
Early life and education
Balen Shah was born on 27 April 1990 in Naradevi, Kathmandu to a family of Maithili origin.[6][7][8][9] He is the youngest son of Ram Narayan Shah, an Ayurvedic practitioner, and Dhruvadevi Shah.[10] His parents moved to Kathmandu from Mahottari District of Madhesh Province after his father was posted to Naradevi Ayurvedic Hospital.[7]
Shah has been involved in Nepal’s hip-hop scene since the early 2010s. He released his first single, 'Sadak Balak', in 2012 when he was in the ninth grade, a track that reflected the hardships of urban youth and marked his entry into the Nephop (Nepali hip-hop) community.[12] His visibility grew in 2013 when he participated in the YouTube battle rap series Raw Barz, gaining recognition within Nepal’s underground hip-hop community.[12]
Shah’s music has been noted for its socially conscious themes, addressing issues such as corruption, inequality, and urban life in Nepal.[citation needed] A notable track is 'Balidan' ('Sacrifice'), which critiqued political corruption and connected with younger audiences, becoming widely known through online platforms and contributing to his public profile ahead of his political career.[13]
In 2025, Shah performed the song 'Nepal Haseko...' for the soundtrack of the Nepali film Laaj Sharanam. The track, which he wrote, composed, and performed, was originally released on his YouTube channel and was reissued for the film’s promotion. It quickly entered the YouTube trending music charts following its second release.[14][15]
Political career
Shah in 2022
Mayor of Kathmandu (2022–2026)
Shah campaigned for mayor of Kathmandu on a platform of anti-corruption, transparency and accountability. Some of his notable achievements are detailed below:[16]
Transparency
As one of the first moves upon taking office, Shah introduced live telecasts of municipal council meetings, marking the first time such a practice was implemented in the city.[17][7][18]
Solid waste management
On 6 June 2022, an agreement was reached between the Ministry of Urban Development and the newly elected representatives to commence garbage disposal from 7 June and on 18 August 2022, following a four-point agreement between the locals and government officials, Shah directed private companies to handle the disposal of all uncollected solid waste.[19]
Balen Shah at Kathmandu Trash Collection Race Program 2022
Demolition of illegally-built structures
Under Shah, Kathmandu Metropolitan City issued a 35-day notice to numerous private businesses and governmental institutions like the Nepal Police to ensure compliance with the law by removing all structures infringing on public land.[20] The city eventually demolished numerous illegally built structures and reclaimed the space for public usage.
Education
Shah launched the 'textbook-free Friday' program in community schools which aimed at helping students learn technical skills and engage in other extracurricular activities.[21] He also asked all private schools in Kathmandu to provide scholarships to at least 10 percent of students as per the Compulsory and Free Education Act 2075 and the KMC Education Act 2075.[22]
Controversies
Demolition drive in the city
In 2022, soon after being elected as mayor, Shah embarked on a widespread demolition drive in the city of Kathmandu, employing bulldozers to destroy buildings and structures that he said were infringing on public land. He primarily targeted commercial buildings like the Alfa Beta Complex in Baneshwor, RB Complex in Khichhapokhari, Suraj Arcade in New Road, and the underpass that connects Bhotahiti with Ratna Park.[23] Kathmandu Metropolitan City gave these businesses a 35-day notice and when the deadline expired, immediately began demolishing the structures. The demolitions initially drew widespread praise from the public but was ultimately criticized for a high-handed approach and a lack of follow-ups after the initial demolitions.[24]
As part of the demolition drive, Shah also sought to dig up the Tukucha (Icchumati) River, which had been built over in the past. He destroyed part of the Jai Nepal Cinema Hall and unearthed the river beneath its premises.[25] However, a stay order from the Patan High Court halted any further demolition activity. Critics claimed that the Tukucha was not a river per se but more of a drainage canal and that Shah's actions infringed upon the right to private property.[26] In 2023, the High Court eventually decided that while the Tukucha was a legitimate river and deserved protection, the same applied to the rights of private property holders.[27] As of 2026, the river remains unearthed on the premises of the Jai Nepal Cinema Hall but no further conservation activity has taken place.
Attempts to evict landless squatters
In November 2022, Kathmandu Metropolitan City attempted to evict landless squatter residing on the banks of the Bagmati River. The attempt resulted in a pitched battle between municipal workers and squatters that left over 21 injured.[28] Following the attempt, squatters protested against the actions of Shah and the city officials, demanding alternative housing arrangement before being relocated.[29] These demands were supported by activists who also asked Shah and the city to arrange for alternative housing before embarking on a demolition drive. [30]
Use of force towards street vendors
The Kathmandu Metropolitan Government, led by Shah, has faced criticism from organizations like Human Rights Watch due to allegations of employing disproportionate use of force against street vendors.[31] His policies have also led to the emergence of small-scale protests by social activists, triggered by the circulation of videos showing the municipal police chasing down, beating and confiscating vendors' properties.[32] Critics of Shah's crackdown on street vendors argue that since nearly half of the country's economy relies on informal businesses, such actions adversely impact the standard of living of the urban poor without offering viable alternative solutions.[33]
In September 2023, the political activist known as Iih stood for 199 hours outside Kathmandu City Hall, urging the mayor to allow street vendors to conduct business without interference until an alternative solution could be proposed. Support for the protest came from figures like Kathmandu-4 MP Gagan Thapa, former Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa, and former Finance Minister Surendra Pandey. Addressing the protest, Mayor Shah stated on Facebook that he was enforcing existing laws established by lawmakers such as MP Thapa. He also argued that restricting street vendors does not effectively address poverty and expressed concern about the injustice faced by those whose property had been confiscated during road expansion initiatives of the city. The protest concluded with an agreement between Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Iih, aiming to develop an alternative plan for street vendors, temporary permits for specific areas and times, and the return of confiscated goods to their owners.[34][35]
In September 2023, Shah publicly threatened to burn down Singha Durbar, the administrative center of the federal government, on Facebook. His post came after his wife, Sabina Kafle, was stopped for a routine security check by traffic police while travelling in a vehicle with government plates.[36] Shah wrote, "Nothing happened today., but if any KMC vehicles are stopped tomorrow onwards, I will set the Singha Durbar on fire." The Facebook post was heavily criticized by civil society and political parties across the board for being insensitive and with the potential to incite violence against the federal government. After the controversy, Shah's personal advisor, Bhupdev Shah, released a press statement saying that Kafle was unnecessarily harassed while travelling to a hospital after suffering labor pains.[37] However, it later emerged that Kafle had already given birth a week prior and that the press statement was categorically false.[38]
In September 2025, after Gen Zprotesters set fire to Singha Durbar, many social and political commentators recalled Shah's two-year-old threat, drawing links between the two events.[39]
Map of Greater Nepal
In 2023, Shah again courted controversy by placing a 'Greater Nepal' map in his office, drawing strong objections from India.[40]Greater Nepal is an irredentist concept claims territories beyond Nepal’s present-day borders that were once under Nepali control before the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli — including areas now in several Indian states. Shah’s display of the map was widely reported as a symbolic response to the controversy over an 'Akhanda Bharat' mural displayed in India’s new Parliament building, which also claims parts of many neighboring countries, including Nepal, as part of a 'Greater India'.[41]
Temporary ban of Indian films
In June 2023, Shah moved to ban the screening of all Indian films in Kathmandu after the Indian film Adipurush included a dialogue stating that “Sita is a daughter of India.”[42] The dialogue sparked controversy in Nepal, where the mythical figure of Sita from the Ramayan is traditionally believed to have been born in Janakpur, Nepal.[43] The ban was challenged at the Patan High Court, which ordered Shah to lift the ban. Shah initially refused but was forced to lift the ban.[44] Later, he once again took to social media, calling the federal government and the judiciary "Indian slaves". He maintained the ban despite a court order directing its removal.[45]
Offensive posts about neighboring countries and political parties
In November 2025, Shah once again posted on Facebook, targeting friendly countries like India, China, the United States, and various political parties like CPN (UML), Nepali Congress, Rastriya Swatantra Party, RPP, and the Maoists, cursing at them all using the profanity fuck.[46] The post was quickly deleted but not before it had once again invited criticism from across the board for harming Nepal's friendly relations with foreign countries and creating an atmosphere of hostility.[47]
Not sending fire brigades
After the Gen-Z protests in September 2025, the Nepal Student Union, the student wing of the Nepali Congress, filed a police complaint against Shah, accusing him of inciting violence and failing to deploy fire engines to control blazes ignited by protesters on buildings like Singha Durbar and the federal Parliament. Shah rejected these claims, stating that city teams worked around the clock to ensure public safety and protect infrastructure.[48]
Personal life
Shah is married to Sabina Kafle, a public health professional.[11] He lives with his wife and daughter in Gairigaun, Tinkune.[11]
Shah was elected on 26 May 2022, winning 38.6% of the votes cast. He defeated Nepali Congress candidate Sirjana Shrestha and former mayor and CPN (UML) candidate Keshav Sthapit by a margin of over 23,000 votes.[50]
Shah was sworn in as mayor on 30 May 2022 and administered the oath of office to other members of the municipal assembly elected at the elections.[51]
12बेलवासे, अस्मिता (26 May 2022). "काठमाडौँका 'लेन'मा बालेन". Nagarik News (in Nepali). Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
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