Former Rapper Leads Youth Towards Prime Ministership in Nepal After Intense Protests

The political scene in Nepal is witnessing unprecedented changes, as former rapper Balindra Shah, known as "Palin," announced his candidacy for the position of Prime Minister in the parliamentary elections scheduled for March 5.

Palin, 35 years old and currently serving as the Mayor of Kathmandu, has joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) led by former broadcaster Rabi Lamichhane, to form a new alliance with the Socialist Party, aiming to challenge the traditional parties that have dominated Nepali politics for over three decades.

According to the agreement, Palin will become Prime Minister if the Socialist Party wins, while Lamichhane will remain the party president. Both have pledged to address the demands of the youth that emerged during the recent September protests, which were led by the millennial generation against corruption and resulted in the deaths of 77 people and the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.

Palin is seen as a symbol of the youth who led the protests, although some critics question his public presence, as he primarily communicated through social media.

Analyst Bipin Adhikari confirms that the move to ally with Palin is highly strategic in attracting the youth voter base, while traditional parties face the risk of losing support from this vital demographic.

The Election Commission indicates that about 19 million Nepalis are eligible to vote out of a population of 30 million, with nearly one million new voters, mostly young, added after the protests, making the upcoming elections a real test of the new forces' ability to shift the political balance in Nepal.