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By Our Reporter

Balen Shah walking away from the mayor’s chair at Kathmandu Metropolitan City and stepping into national politics may look abrupt, but it did not come out of nowhere. Since his first days at City Hall, it was clear he was pushing against walls that a mayor cannot break.

He won KMC as an independent, ran the office with force, clashed openly with political parties, and built a following that went beyond Kathmandu. Over time, the limits became obvious. Decisions on laws, ministries, security forces, and money sit far above the city office. Staying on as mayor risked turning him into a loud figure with shrinking space to act. A run for Parliament gives him a way out of that corner.

Balen, on Monday, made his first public address after joining Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in Janakpur where he asked the people, in a mass meeting, to make a son of Madhesh next prime minister.

However, contesting in Jhapa 5 makes this move bolder but riskier. It is not his home ground, not even close. This is KP Sharma Oli’s backyard, a seat the UML chair knows inside out. Oli has party workers down to the ward level, long personal ties, and a reputation for winning tough fights. By choosing Jhapa, Balen is saying he does not want a soft landing. He wants to test his appeal where politics is deeply rooted. Symbolically too, the choice is loaded. Oli stands for party control, old habits, and power built over decades. Balen stands for disruption, blunt talk, and a politics that skips long procedures. Putting himself against Oli lets him sell this election as a direct clash between two very different ideas of leadership.

Starting the campaign from Janakpur on January 19 fits that thinking. The date carries weight in Madhes, linked to the movement, sacrifice, and long running debates on identity and federal structure. For Balen, this is also about breaking the label of being a Kathmandu only leader. Speaking in Maithili and appearing in Madhesi dress is a clear attempt to show reach beyond the capital. A national leader cannot survive on urban votes alone, and Balen seems aware of that gap.

His entry into the RSP as a senior figure and the party’s proposed prime ministerial face changes the equation. RSP gains a leader who has run an institution, handled pressure, and commands public attention. Balen gains what he never had as an independent, a party machine, workers, and a countrywide presence. It also shifts RSP’s image. The party is no longer just questioning others. It is openly claiming power and putting forward a face to lead the government.

There are some advantage for him. His work at KMC, especially his visible actions, still connects with voters tired of slow and cautious politics. His past as a rapper shows in how he talks. Short lines, direct words, no heavy language. He knows how to stay in the public eye without endless rallies. In Jhapa, younger voters and people who moved in from cities may respond to that.

The problems are just as real. Jhapa 5 is not only Oli’s seat. UML and RPP chair Rajendra Lingden have a habit of helping each other when it suits them. Even without an open deal, votes can quietly move. The Nepali Congress candidate further cuts into the anti UML space, which hurts Balen more than Oli. On the ground, Balen lacks a local base built over years. Social media does not replace booth level work on election day.

A win would shake national politics. Oli’s authority inside UML would take a hit, alliances would shift, and RSP would move to the center of power talks. Balen would walk into Parliament as a serious national player. A loss would raise questions about timing and choice, but it would not end his run. The risk is big, but caution was never his path.