Balen Shah To Be Sworn In As Nepal’s Youngest Prime Minister Today, Rap Message Goes Viral Before Oath

Balendra Shah, widely known as Balen, is set to be sworn in as Nepal's youngest Prime Minister on Friday, 27 March, marking a historic political shift in the Himalayan nation. The 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician will take office after being elected leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) parliamentary party on Thursday, following the party's sweeping victory in the 5 March elections.

Balen's rise is being seen as a landmark moment not only because of his age, but also because he will become the first leader from Nepal's Madhes region to occupy the country's top executive office. His swearing-in comes months after Nepal's political landscape was dramatically altered by a deadly youth-led anti-corruption uprising in September 2025.

Balen's Rap Message Before Swearing-In Goes Viral

Ahead of taking office, Balen released his first public post-election message in an unconventional way, through a rap song titled Jay Mahakali. The track, unveiled on Thursday, quickly went viral across social media and streaming platforms, gathering tens of thousands of views within minutes.

In the song, Balen called for national unity, singing, "The strength of unity is my national power." He followed it with another line in Nepali, "Undivided Nepali, this time, history is being made."

The music video features footage from his election campaign. While the original song had reportedly been released a decade ago, the updated version was made public on 26 March with fresh campaign visuals added. It drew 1.5 lakh viewers within just two hours of its YouTube release, and by Friday morning, the video had crossed 2 million views.

Another emotionally charged line from the song also captured attention: "My heart is full of courage, my red blood is boiling; my brothers stand with me, this time we will rise." He also sang, "May my breath not run out, I will run like a leopard."

Swearing-In Ceremony Scheduled At 12.34 PM In Kathmandu

According to officials at the President's Office, Balen will be sworn in at the President's Office in Sheetal Niwas at the auspicious time of 12.34 pm local time (12.19 pm IST). He is expected to begin his tenure with a relatively small cabinet, likely consisting of 15 to 18 ministers.

The ceremony is expected to reflect Nepal's unique blend of Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Reports citing officials and sources close to Balen said the event will include Shankhanad, or conch blowing, by seven brahmins, recitation of Vedic hymns or Swasti Bachan by 108 Hindu Batuks, and Mangal Bachan, or Buddhist scripture recitation, by 107 Lamas.

The ceremonial format is being viewed as a symbolic gesture of cultural unity as Nepal prepares for a new political chapter under a youthful leadership.

RSP's Landslide Victory Reshaped Nepal's Politics

The Rastriya Swatantra Party, which projected Balen as its prime ministerial face, won 182 of the 275 seats in the House of Representatives in the 5 March elections. The result gave the party a clear majority under Article 76(1) of Nepal's Constitution, allowing it to form a government on its own.

In the House of Representatives, 165 members are elected through direct voting, while 110 are chosen through proportionate representation. With 182 seats, the RSP comfortably crossed the simple majority mark of 138 seats. However, it remains just two seats short of the two-thirds majority needed if the party seeks constitutional amendments.

Balen also scored one of the most striking personal victories of the election, defeating four-time prime minister K P Sharma Oli in the Jhapa-5 constituency, a long-time stronghold of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist). The upset victory further cemented his image as the face of Nepal's political reset.

Sushila Karki Says Future Belongs To The Youth

Soon after Balen's rap video was released, outgoing interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki delivered a televised farewell to the nation. The 73-year-old former chief justice, who had led the caretaker government for the past six months, expressed confidence in the incoming administration.

"I am confident that the new government to be formed under the leadership of the youth will work towards ending corruption in the country, establishing good governance, creating jobs within the country, economic development and social justice," Karki said.

Karki had taken charge after Nepal's previous government fell in the aftermath of the September 2025 youth-led anti-corruption uprising, which claimed at least 77 lives. The protests were initially triggered by a brief social media ban but soon widened into a broader movement fuelled by public anger over economic distress and corruption.

She also said that a report on the crackdown on protesters, ordered during her tenure, would be released soon, though she did not provide further details.

With Balen now stepping into office, Nepal begins a new political era shaped by youth-led demands for accountability, reform and a break from traditional power centres.