Rapper turned Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen, joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) led by a former TV host-turned politician Rabi Lamichhane on Sunday with seven point agreement.
This integration of Balen in RSP, with the promise of a strategic leadership role, is expected to mobilise the youth of Nepal. The agreement highlights commitment to addressing anti-corruption demands, Gen Z aspirations, and governance reforms.
Founder of RSP, Rabi Lamichchane, was recently released from Jail as he was imprisoned on charges of fraud and organised crime related to alleged misappropriation of funds in Nepal’s cooperative sector.
He won a parliamentary seat from Chitwan and became Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister in the coalition government led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda.
Inclusion of Balen in RSP aims to position RSP as a major alternative to traditional big parties, like UML, CPN and Nepali Congress, by uniting a charismatic youth icon with broad appeal.
This is expected to expand the RSP party’s base beyond a single personality of Rabi Lamichhane and strengthen its organisational appeal.
