Kathmandu. Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah has been included in its list of the world’s 100 most influential people of 2026. Prime Minister Balen is at number 14 in the list of influential leaders.
The 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician has been described by Time as a symbol of youth revolt and a powerful rising leader. The prestigious list, released on April 15, describes Shah’s rise as a strong response to South Asia’s archaic and dynastic politics.
What did Time Magazine say?
Time wrote on Balen’s profile, “Balen’s victory last March came at a time when the Gen-G generation was protesting across the country against corruption and outdated political styles. The engineer, who used to rap that money grows on trees for those who sell their honesty, has shown efficiency as the mayor of Kathmandu has put him in a position to lead 30 million Nepalis today. ’
The magazine described him as a devotee of American rappers such as Tupac Shakur and 50 Cent, and said that the world community is interested in how he can take the improvements he has made in waste management, education and health at the local level to the national level.
Balen-led Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) won a historic victory with 182 seats in the House of Representatives in the general elections held on March 5. Balen had defeated former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli by a huge margin in Jhapa-5.
The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which had moved ahead with the slogan of displacing the old generation and establishing good governance, has been able to take the reins of power within three years of its establishment.
Hope for a New Generation
Balen once wrote on social media. “Whether old or new, all politicians are thieves. Time Magazine concludes its report by saying, “Now all Nepalese are hoping that he himself will prove that statement wrong.” ’
Time’s list also includes some of the world’s most famous celebrities, including Luke Combs, Keke Palmer and Jenny. The award has made it clear that the world forum is seriously observing the latest political change in Nepal.
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