Opinion | Viral Sensations to First-Timers: Meet Nepal's Gen Z Poll Stars - Beyond Balen Shah

Updated: Mar 09, 2026 16:39 pm IST Published On Mar 09, 2026 16:38 pm IST Last Updated On Mar 09, 2026 16:39 pm IST

Published On Mar 09, 2026 16:38 pm IST

Last Updated On Mar 09, 2026 16:39 pm IST

From rapper-turned-politician to social activist viral on social media, and promoter of education and scientific inventions to the hard-working mayor of a small town, Nepal election has them all.

Not just former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah, or his Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) colleague former TV show host Rabi Lamichhane, Nepal's post Gen Z revolt election has seen all kinds of candidates, a lot of them political novices, representing diverse backgrounds.

With the RSP having created history with a near-clean sweep, rapper-mayor Balen Shah is all set to become Nepal's new prime minister.

But Balen Shah is not the only unusual face in this election. Meet some of the other interesting ones:

Ashika Tamang, 33, RSP

Ashika Tamang is a well-known name in Nepal thanks to her viral videos. In recent years, she's shown herself in action in her videos calling out men peeing at public places, or folks throwing garbage at river banks. She became popular after her videos with social messages went viral on social media platforms like Facebook Reels, Instagram and TikTok. At times, the "Nepali Angelina Jolie" also faced the wrath of Nepal Police and the law of land for allegedly failing to honour public decency.

The former nurse-cum-actress is endearingly called Didi (sister) for her social work and campaign against corruption and wrong-doing. She won many hearts and minds during last year's Gen Z revolt after collecting funds to help protesters injured or dead during the violent protests. Prior to election, she courted some controversy as she spent some time in Germany working as a staff nurse.

She has won the parliamentary seat from Dhading-1 as an RSP candidate, securing an impressive 39,000- plus votes, and beating old-time political heavyweights like Rajendra Pandey of the Communist Party of Nepal -........

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