Balen: From rebel outsider to Nepal's next prime minister

"Balen Shah's political ascent has been marked by an unusual strategy of saying very little. The former Kathmandu mayor rarely steps into the public spotlight or engages in extended media interactions. When he does speak, he chooses his words carefully, a restraint that many analysts say became a deliberate campaign tactic during this parliamentary election."

"Wearing his trademark black outfit and dark sunglasses, Balen traveled across constituencies meeting voters face-to-face. Sometimes he drove himself to campaign stops. Other times he walked among supporters. He waved, shook hands, listened and sampled local delicacies. But he consistently avoided long speeches and sweeping promises."

"Thousands of people poured into the streets of Damak in eastern Nepal's Jhapa district on the evening of March 7, running alongside a slowly moving vehicle in a scene filled with excitement, celebration and hope. Their cheers intensified each time the man standing through the sunroof raised his hand or greeted the crowd with folded palms."

Balendra Shah, 35-year-old former mayor of Kathmandu, has rapidly become Nepal's most unexpected national political figure following his party's landslide election victory. Shah's political rise defies conventional campaign strategies. Rather than engaging in extensive media interactions or making sweeping promises, he employed a minimalist approach, traveling across constituencies for face-to-face voter meetings while wearing his trademark black outfit and dark sunglasses. His campaign featured brief public appearances, local dialect usage, and personal connections with supporters through handshakes and listening rather than lengthy speeches. Shah sometimes drove himself to campaign stops and walked among voters, sampling local food. This restrained, low-profile strategy proved remarkably effective, resonating with voters and delivering decisive electoral success for his Rastriya Swatantra Party.

Read at www.dw.com