KATHMANDU - Balendra Shah's rise from rapper to Nepal's prime minister has made him an unlikely standard-bearer for political reform.
Three months into the job, his aggressive campaign against illegal settlements is winning supporters who want action while alarming critics who see a disregard for due process.
The 36-year-old, who became prime minister in March, has moved quickly to implement reforms and remains highly popular, particularly among young people who view him as a break from Nepal's traditional political establishment.
But his readiness to push through controversial measures has also drawn scrutiny.
In late April, security forces descended on a sprawling settlement along a river at the southern edge of Kathmandu, sealing off the entrance to prevent outsiders from approaching before beginning the removal of homes made of corrugated iron, wood and bamboo.
The settlement sits on illegally occupied land, where an estimated 2,000 households have built homes.
While a promenade has been developed on the opposite bank by a neighboring municipality, the Kathmandu side remains a cluster of simple dwellings.
The area is inhabited largely by low-income residents and is prone to flooding during the rainy season.
Residents say previous governments knew the settlement was problematic but avoided taking action, fearing the move would trigger protests.
Shah had attempted similar removals while serving as mayor of Kathmandu. At the time, authorities proceeded without what residents considered sufficient notice, triggering clashes that left people injured. Without the authority to mobilize security forces, Shah was ultimately unable to complete the effort.
As prime minister, however, he has pressed ahead. This time, there were no major protests, and evictions have been carried out at several sites in and around the capital. The government plans to convert the cleared land into parks and roads.
Saru Bastola, 40, who has lived in the settlement since he was two years old, said police informed residents on a Thursday night that they would have to leave by Saturday morning.
"I don't oppose the development, but it's too sudden," he said.
Around 200 households were moved into apartment complexes provided by the government, but Bastola was not among those accepted. He has since been forced to move from place to place with very few belongings.
The international rights group Human Rights Watch criticized the government's approach, saying the evictions disregard due process and the rule of law.
Despite such criticism, Shah continues to enjoy strong support among young Nepalese who helped propel him to power. Many had grown frustrated with a political system in which the country's three major parties repeatedly alternated in government.
Students at Sakura International Language Academy, a Japanese-language school in Kathmandu attended by around 100 people in their 20s, expressed hope that Shah would tackle corruption and create jobs.
Dipesh Budhathoki, 23, who studied English in Kobe for about three years beginning in 2021, said corruption had become commonplace under the previous administration.
"Under the previous (Khadga Prasad Sharma) Oli administration, you had to pay a 20,000-rupee ($131) bribe to the official just to get a passport," he said.
Dipesh also took part in demonstrations last September that contributed to former Prime Minister Oli's resignation.
"We don't need pretty words. We want results through our work," he said.
