Nepal’s parliamentary elections on March 5, 2026, represent a pivotal moment following last year’s Gen Z-led protests that ousted former PM KP Sharma Oli amid widespread anti-corruption fury. Balen Shah, the former rapper and Kathmandu mayor, has emerged as a central talking point due to his meteoric rise as an independent youth icon challenging Nepal’s geriatric political elite—he resigned his mayoral post to contest Oli’s stronghold constituency under the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), symbolising hopes for generational change in a nation where over 40% of the population is under 35. Shah’s unconventional background, viral protest anthems like “Nepal Haseko,” and landslide 2022 mayoral win have galvanised young voters frustrated by unemployment and dynastic politics, positioning him as a bold PM contender. TOI’s Vishant Agrawala is in Nepal and explains how Balen Shah’s campaign is getting a lot of attention from his sunglasses to his attire.