Balen resigns as mayor, begins political journey
Summary
Balendra Shah resigns as mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City to launch his formal career in national politics, aiming to contest the upcoming House of Representatives election against former PM KP Sharma Oli.
Key Points
- Balendra Shah resigned as mayor of Kathmandu on January 18, 2026, to begin his national political career.
- Shah joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party and is projected as their prime ministerial candidate for the upcoming elections.
- He was elected mayor of Kathmandu as an independent candidate in 2022 and gained popularity through good governance and social media.
- Shah will contest the March 5 House of Representatives election against former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in Jhapa-5 constituency, representing the Gen Z movement agenda.
