In 2013, Balendra Shah, then known in Nepal’s underground Rap scene as Balen, stepped onto the stage at the Nephop battle Raw Barz. His verses cut through the crowd with sharp critiques of corruption and the suppression of the Nepali people. More than a decade later, those same rebellious instincts have carried him from cypher circles to the center of national politics.

In 2021, Shah shocked the establishment by winning the mayoral race in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital and largest city. Now, the former battle MC is on the verge of an even bigger upset: becoming Nepal’s next prime minister.

Last week’s general election was the first since youth-led protests toppled the government last September, signaling a generational shift in Nepali politics. Shah openly supported the demonstrations and has built his political brand on a confrontational, anti-establishment style that feels closer to battle rap than parliamentary debate.

On Saturday, Nepal’s Election Commission reported that Shah had secured nearly 70,000 votes in his constituency, unseating the former leader. While the final results have yet to be officially called, early projections suggest Shah’s Rastriya Swatantra Party is headed for a landslide victory, clearing the path for the Nephop veteran to become Nepal’s next prime minister. This would mark a stunning rejection of the political status quo that has dominated Nepali politics for nearly two decades.

Not bad for someone who started out dropping bars in a Rap battle.