25/02/2026
🇳🇵B***ndra "B***n" Shah, popularly known as
B***n, is a Nepali rapper, engineer, and politician who first gained fame through his music career before entering politics. As a hip-hop artist, he built a strong following with socially conscious rap songs that addressed corruption, inequality, youth frustration, and political hypocrisy in Nepal.
His music resonated deeply with young audiences and established him as a bold, outspoken public figure long before his political rise. In 2022, he shocked the political establishment by winning the Kathmandu Metropolitan City mayoral election as an independent candidate, defeating traditional party nominees and signaling a major shift in urban Nepali politics. As mayor, B***n was known for his strict approach to urban management, infrastructure reforms, and a direct, unconventional leadership style that drew both praise and criticism.
In January 2026, B***n resigned as Kathmandu mayor and formally entered national politics through a unity agreement with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), emerging as its prime ministerial candidate for the March 5, 2026 House of Representatives election. He is contesting from the high-profile Jhapa-5 constituency, directly challenging former prime minister KP Sharma Oli, making it one of the most closely watched races in the country. Since launching his campaign, B***n has toured widely across Nepal, including llam and other eastern districts, followed by outreach programs in the Far-West and Sudurpaschim regions such as Kailali, Kanchanpur, Bajhang, and Achham, addressing public gatherings and meeting grassroots supporters. His transition from underground rap to the national political stage has turned him into a symbol of generational change, accountability, and anti-establishment politics, placing him at the very center of Nepal's 2026 election narrative.