Former rapper sworn in as Nepal’s prime minister

Balendra Shah, 35, a former mayor of Kathmandu and popular rapper, has officially assumed office as Nepal’s Prime Minister, Reuters reports.

The leader of the National Independent Party becomes the youngest prime minister in the country in decades. In the March elections, his party won 182 out of 275 seats in parliament, securing a clear majority.

Also known by his stage name “Balen,” Shah gained widespread popularity amid public frustration with traditional political forces, which many associate with corruption and ineffective governance.