Nepal’s political scene ignited in Janakpur Monday as former Kathmandu mayor Balen Shah unleashed his maiden national speech in fluent Maithili, drawing frenzied support mere hours post-resignation. Eyeing March 5 parliamentary glory, the RSP-endorsed PM candidate electrified the ‘Change Proclamation Rally’ with calls for upheaval.
Shah’s Madhesi heritage shone through his linguistic choice, forging instant bonds: ‘Power must rest in right hands, not just for a Madhesi’s rise. Bell your vote for prosperity.’ RSP’s symbol became his battle cry against systemic biases favoring hill elites.
Victory for Shah would rewrite history, installing the first Madhesi PM and dismantling Brahmin strangleholds. He pitched Janakpur—revered for Sita’s birth and divine wedding—as Nepal’s wedding capital, curbing expatriate nuptial trends.
Amid praise from RSP’s Ravi Lamichhane, who brushed off his fraud indictments as smears, Shah’s ascent is sealed by a December pact: mayoral quit, party seniority, Sunday office debut. Jhapa-5 pits him against Oli’s fiefdom, framing an epic PM duel rooted in past feuds, Gen-Z unrest, and Shah’s kingmaker status in Karki’s regime.
The 2022 independent mayor triumph, youth adoration for his rap-architect vibe, and media shyness amplify Shah’s rebel allure. As RSP surges, his vision heralds a democratic renaissance, wresting control from old guards for equitable progress.