In a electrifying moment for Nepali politics, Balen Shah, the ex-mayor of Kathmandu, delivered his inaugural political address in Maithili to a sea of supporters in Janakpur on Monday. The event came hours after his resignation from the capital’s top civic post, signaling his bold pivot to national leadership ahead of the March 5 parliamentary polls.
Backed by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which has anointed him as their prime minister hopeful, Shah addressed the ‘Change Declaration Rally’ with passion. By choosing Maithili, his mother tongue from Madhes roots, he bridged cultural divides and emphasized authentic representation.
Shah implored the crowd: ‘Don’t vote thinking a Madhesi can lead; vote to place power where it belongs.’ Rallying behind RSP’s bell symbol, he promised brighter days and effective governance, positioning himself as the antidote to entrenched elite control.
A Shah premiership would shatter precedents, elevating a Madhesi to Nepal’s top job for the first time amid historical Brahmin hegemony from the hills. He spotlighted Janakpur’s Ramayana heritage—Sita’s birthplace and wedding site—pushing it as a lucrative wedding hub to reclaim cultural revenue lost to overseas ceremonies.
Party president Ravi Lamichhane lauded Shah’s leadership prowess, alluding to his own cooperative fraud cases as potential smears. He affirmed no fears, with Shah ready to steer the nation.
The electoral battlefield is Jhapa-5, where Shah challenges KP Oli’s stronghold. This face-off evokes past clashes, including during Oli’s tenure and post the Gen-Z protests last September, where architect-rapper Shah emerged as a kingmaker in the current Sushila Karki government formation.
Shah’s journey—from independent Kathmandu mayor in 2022 to RSP senior leader via a late-December pact—highlights his youth-driven popularity. His aversion to media spotlight and defiant power critiques have made him a youth icon, fueling hopes for systemic overhaul in Nepal.
