Balen Shah
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Balendra Shah | |
|---|---|
 Balen during media briefing in May 2024 | |
| 15th Mayor of Kathmandu | |
| Assumed office 30 May 2022 | |
| Deputy | Sunita Dangol |
| Preceded by | Bidya Sundar Shakya |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 April 1990 Mahottari |
| Political party | Independent |
| Spouse |
Sabina Kafle (m. 2018) |
| Parents |
|
| Alma mater | VTU (MTech) |
| Profession | |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | balenformayor |
Balendra Shah (Nepali: वालेन्द्र साह; born 27 April 1990), also called as Balen Shah or Balen, is a Nepalese rapper, music composer, poet, structural engineer and politician. He is currently serving as the 15th mayor of Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal.[1][2] He is also the first independent candidate to be elected as the mayor of Kathmandu.[3]
Shah is also part of Nepalese hip-hop since the early 2010s. In 2022 local election, shah defeated Nepali Congress candidate Sirjana Singh and CPN (UML) candidate Keshav Sthapit.[4][5][6]
He is included in Time magazine list of "The 100 emerging leaders who are shaping the future" in 2023.[7]
Early life and education
[edit]Balendra Shah was born on 27 April 1990 in Ekdara-5, Mahottari district. He is the youngest son of Ram Narayan Shah, an Ayurvedic practitioner, and his wife Dhruvadevi Shah.[8] His parents moved to Kathmandu from Mahottari District of Madhesh Province after his father was posted to Naradevi Ayurvedic Hospital.[5]
Shah attended V.S. Niketan Higher Secondary School for his 10+2 studies. He received a bachelor's degree (BE) in civil engineering from Himalayan Whitehouse International College.[9] He also received a master's degree (MTech) in structural engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) in Karnataka, India.[8]
Music career
[edit]From an early age, Shah was interested in music and poetry.[10] He released his first single, Sadak Balak, which he wrote while in the ninth grade, in 2012.[9] He rose to prominence among Nephop fans in 2013 after his appearance on the YouTube battle rap series Raw Barz.[9]
Political career
[edit]Mayor of Kathmandu (2022 - Present)
[edit]As one of the first moves upon taking office, Shah introduced live telecasts of municipal council meetings, marking the first time such a practice was implemented in the city.[11]
Solid waste management
[edit]On 6 June 2022, an agreement was reached between the Ministry of Urban Development and the newly elected representatives to commence garbage disposal from 7 June and on 18 August 2022, following a four-point agreement between the locals and government officials, Balen directed private companies to handle the disposal of all uncollected solid waste.[12]
Demolition of illegally-built structures
[edit]Shah instructed to uncover the Tukucha River by demolishing the private properties built above the river, as part of city beautification and river conservation effort. The businesses affected by the campaign filed a writ petition in the court. Patan High Court subsequently issued the interim order barring the Kathmandu city government in the demolition drive.[13]
He made a request to the Nepal Police to ensure compliance with the law and order by removing all police sub-stations constructed on sidewalks without proper authorization from the municipality.[14] He also clashed with Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, after the mayor's office removed the construction materials including wire fencing on the grounds of Tribhuvan International Airport, that were built without proper approval from the city.[15] CAAN wrote letter to mayor Balen seeking explanation for his forceful entry to the restricted area and asked the KMC Mayor to furnish clarification as to why he should not be punished as per the Clause 25(1) of the CAAN Act.[16] KMC Mayor moved to high court demanding the notice given by CAAN to be scrapped. The Patan high court issued short-term stay order on the notice. However, the high court scrapped the petition filed by KMC Mayor.[17]
Balen's office issued a 7-day public notice to vacate landless squatters on the river banks, which led to a conflict between the residents and the municipal police during the slum demolition attempt. The clash resulted in several injuries.[18] Balen later expressed his concern about the Home Ministry's perceived lack of assistance during the incident. Prior to this, Balen had expressed dissatisfaction with the federal government when Kathmandu's garbage collection was interrupted for two months. Following the confrontation with the riverbank settlers, tensions between the federal government and the Kathmandu metropolitan office escalated, eventually leading Balen to instruct the cessation of garbage collection from Singha Durbar, the seat of the federal government.[19]
Education
Kathmandu Metro under Mayor Balen launched 'Textbook-free-Friday' program in community schools which aimed at helping students learn technical skills and engage in other extracurricular activities.[20]
Criticisms
[edit]Use of force towards street vendors
[edit]The Kathmandu Municipal Government, led by Shah, has faced criticism from organizations like Human Rights Watch due to allegations of employing disproportionate use of force against street vendors.[21] His policies have also led to the emergence of small-scale protests by social activists, triggered by the circulation of videos showing the municipal police chasing down, beating and confiscating vendors' properties.[22] Critics of Shah's crackdown on street vendors argue that since nearly half of the country's economy relies on informal businesses, such actions adversely impact the standard of living of the urban poor without offering viable alternative solutions.[23]
In September 2023, the political activist known as Iih stood for 199 hours outside Kathmandu City Hall, urging the mayor to allow street vendors to conduct business without interference until an alternative solution could be proposed. Support for the protest came from figures like Kathmandu-4 MP Gagan Thapa, former Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa, and former Finance Minister Surendra Pandey. Addressing the protest, Mayor Shah stated on Facebook that he was enforcing existing laws established by lawmakers such as MP Thapa. He also argued that restricting street vendors does not effectively address poverty and expressed concern about the injustice faced by those whose property had been confiscated during road expansion initiatives of the city. The protest concluded with an agreement between Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Iih, aiming to develop an alternative plan for street vendors, temporary permits for specific areas and times, and the return of confiscated goods to their owners.[24][25]
Contempt of court
[edit]Shah sparked controversy when he imposed a ban on screening Indian movies within the city limits, demanding the removal of the line "Sita is the daughter of India" from the movie Adipurush. In response to his decision, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court, leading to the issuance of an interim order by the Patan High Court against Shah's ban. In defiance of the court's order, Shah took to Facebook, stating his refusal to comply, arguing that the court's decision was contrary to the country's interests, and further accusing both the federal government and the courts of being under the influence of India.[26][27] Following Shah's statement on Facebook, a writ petition was subsequently filed in the Supreme Court, accusing him of contempt of court.[28] Despite his outburst on social media, Shah relented the very next day and allowed the screening of Indian films in Kathmandu.
Rap lyrics
[edit]In early July 2022, he attracted controversy over the use of a sacred crown in Nephopko Shreepech, a hip-hop reality TV show in which he served as a judge.[29]
Personal life
[edit]Shah is married to Sabina Kafle, a public health professional.[9] He lives with his family in Gairigaun, Tinkune.[9]
Electoral history
[edit]2022 Kathmandu mayoral election
[edit]Balen Shah had been mulling over his plans for candidacy since 2020 and on 17 December 2021 announced that he would be running for the mayoral race as an independent candidate through his Facebook Page.[4][9] His campaign focused on waste management, road traffic control, public service delivery, anti-corruption, and preservation of cultural heritage of the city.[5]
Shah was elected on 26 May 2022, winning 38.6% of the votes cast. He defeated Nepali Congress candidate Sirjana Shrestha and former mayor and CPN (UML) candidate Keshav Sthapit by a margin of over 23,000 votes.[1]
Shah was sworn in as mayor on 30 May 2022 and administered the oath of office to other members of the municipal assembly elected at the elections.[30]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Balendra Shah | 61,767 | 38.6% | New | |
| Congress | Sirjana Singh | 38,341 | 24.0% | +1.1% | |
| CPN (UML) | Keshav Sthapit | 38,117 | 23.8% | −9.1% | |
| Independent | Suman Sayami | 13,770 | 8.6% | New | |
| RPP | Madan Das Shrestha | 5,770 | 3.6% | New | |
| Others | 2,141 | 1.3% | |||
| Total valid votes | 159,906 | ||||
| Rejected ballots | 31,280 | ||||
| Turnout | 191,186 | 63.68% | −9.04% | ||
| Registered electors | 300,242 | [31] | +10.7% | ||
Awards and recognitions
[edit]TIME Magazine included Shah in ‘The 100 emerging leaders who are shaping the future’ list of 2023.[32][33]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "'लौरो' बोकेर बालेन बने काठमाण्डू महानगर प्रमुख, को हुन् उनको विजयका सारथि". BBC News (in Nepali). 26 May 2022. Archived from the original on 29 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "Nepali rapper Balendra Shah becomes new Mayor of Kathmandu". ThePrint. 27 May 2022. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022.
- ^ "Editorial | Balen Shah's faulty glasses". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Rapper Balen Shah announces to contest for Mayor of Kathmandu". My Republica. 17 December 2021. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ a b c "'Balen' canes parties with the walking stick". The Kathmandu Post. 26 May 2022. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ मोक्तान, रीना (26 May 2022). "र्यापबाटै राजनीति". Kantipur Publications (in Nepali). Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "2023 TIME100 Next: Balendra Shah". Time. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
- ^ a b बेलवासे, अस्मिता (26 May 2022). "काठमाडौँका 'लेन'मा बालेन". Nagarik News (in Nepali). Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f सत्याल, मनोज (29 April 2022). "कालो चस्माभित्र लुकेका बालेन शाह". Setopati. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ बजगाईं, सुरेन्द्र (2 May 2022). "स्थापित दलका उम्मेदवारमाथि एक्लै भारी बनेका बालेन शाह". Ekagaj (in Nepali). Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ Khatiwada, Nishan (13 June 2022). "Early report card of Mayor Balen Shah". Nepal Live Today. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ "Balen directed private companies to manage garbage". nepalnews.com. 22 August 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ "Tukucha uncovering: Court says river should be conserved, but private property should be protected too - OnlineKhabar English News". 8 May 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ "सडक मिचेर राखिएका प्रहरी बिट हटाउन मेयर बालेन साहको निर्देशन". Online Khabar. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ Samiti, Rastriya Samachar (27 June 2023). "Interim order not to execute CAAN's decision". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ "CAAN seeks explanation from Mayor Balen | NepaleKhabar.com". nepaleKhabar. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ Setopati, Setopati. "Court scraps Balen Shah's petition against CAAN". Setopati. Retrieved 19 November 2024.
- ^ "Kathmandu's Thapathali tense as landless squatters fight with city police - OnlineKhabar English News". 28 November 2022. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ "Singhadarbar waste: Balen Shah-central govt tussle explained". 20 April 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ "'Textbook-free Friday' initiative welcomed but also doubted". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
- ^ "Nepal: End Mistreatment of Urban Poor". Human Rights Watch. 14 December 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ 'गरिबको चमेली बोल्दिने कोही छैन' अभियन्ताद्वारा बालेन र सुनिताको विरोधमा प्रदर्शन, 29 July 2023, retrieved 29 July 2023
- ^ "Street vendors are crucial to urban economy, but their plight is huge". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ Republica. "Balen to Iih: Fulfillment of your demands goes against the law". My Republica. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "Don't get emotional, doing business on streets is illegal: Balen Shah tells Iih". Setopati. 27 September 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2023.
- ^ "Patan High Court tells city to allow Indian films in halls. Balen Shah says no - OnlineKhabar English News". 22 June 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ Shah, Setopati :: Govt and court Indian slaves, I. won't obey court order: Balen. "Govt and court Indian slaves, I won't obey court order: Balen Shah". Govt and court Indian slaves, I won't obey court order: Balen Shah. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Republica. "Contempt of court case filed at SC against KMC Mayor Balen". My Republica. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ "विवाद भएपछि मेयर बालेनले विजेता साइमनसँगै गएर बुझाए 'नेपहपको श्रीपेच'". Kantipur (in Nepali). 5 July 2022. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
- ^ "KMC Mayor Balen Shah takes oath of office and secrecy". Khabarhub. 30 May 2022. Archived from the original on 30 May 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ "प्रेस विज्ञप्ति" (PDF). Election Commission, Nepal (in Nepali). Retrieved 26 May 2022.
- ^ "Mayor Balen Shah departs for the 77th Cannes Film Festival". The Ditible. 14 May 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2024 – via Eastern Times.
- ^ "Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah Attends Cannes Film Festival, Invited by Cannes Mayor David Lisnard". The Cord. The Cord. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
External links
[edit]- Balen Shah at IMDb
