Photos of Balendra Shah, the rapper-turned-politician shaking up Nepal’s election race

CHITWAN, Nepal (AP) — The crowd swelled gradually, first in twos and threes, then in waves. Schoolchildren in uniform threaded through the throng. Elderly men steadied themselves on crutches. Others clutched portraits of Balendra Shah, holding them aloft as they waited for hours to catch a glimpse of him.

When the rapper-turned-politician finally arrived at a public ground in Nepal’s Chitwan district, the roar was deafening. Shah’s song was played on loudspeakers, and thousands of voices chanted his name. He stayed for barely half an hour, spoke for about five minutes, and was gone.

Such scenes have become routine on Shah’s campaign trail, as Nepal’s roughly 19 million voters prepare to cast ballots on Thursday, in the first election a year after a youth-led uprising forced out the previous government. His supporters say Shah, 35, should be viewed as the front-runner.

“I have seen him on television and on my mobile phone, but I wanted to see him in real life,” said Tulasi Devi Shrestha, 75, who was present at Shah’s rally.

Shah’s rise in Nepal’s politics has been swift.

He upended the country’s established political order in 2022 by winning the race for mayor of Kathmandu, defeating candidates from more established parties. He emerged as a prominent voice of discontent in 2025 when the Himalayan nation of about 30 million was shaken by a youth-led uprising that toppled the government.

Now, as Nepal heads into crucial polls, many supporters believe he could become Nepal’s next prime minister.

Shah’s National Independent Party is mounting a direct challenge to the long-entrenched Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist), which have alternated in power for decades. As the established parties struggle to shake off public frustration, Shah has found support among younger voters eager for change.

Shah has cultivated an outsider image, and is running against former prime minister Khadga Prasad Oli, who was forced from office during the uprising.

Critics dismiss him as a populist and question whether his appeal can translate into governance. But for many supporters, he represents a much-needed break from Nepal’s old political guard.

“In my whole life I have seen so many politicians come and go, but I love his energy and I am hopeful that he will bring some change,” said Shrestha.

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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.