Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah resigns, sets sights on Prime Minister’s post

Jan 18, 2026

Kathmandu (Nepal), Jan 18 (ANI): Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah tendered his resignation on Sunday to enter the electoral fray ahead of the March 5 polls. Popularly known by his stage name Balen, the former rapper-turned-politician has been projected by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) as its prime ministerial face for the upcoming elections. Soon after stepping down, Shah reached the RSP headquarters within an hour of submitting his resignation. There, he formally joined party leaders, rang the ceremonial bell alongside RSP president Rabi Lamichhane, and was greeted by enthusiastic supporters chanting his name. On the same day, Shah also assumed the role of a senior leader within the party. In his resignation letter addressed to Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol, Shah stated that his decision was taken in line with constitutional and legal provisions, including the Constitution of Nepal 2015, the Local Government Operation Act 2017, and other prevailing laws governing Kathmandu Metropolitan City. He confirmed that his resignation would take effect from January 18, 2026. With candidate nominations set to be filed on Tuesday, Shah is preparing to contest from the Jhapa-5 constituency.