Nepal PM allowed to wear signature sunglasses in parliament
KATHMANDU: Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah may keep his signature dark sunglasses on in the legislature due to medical reasons, an official said Tuesday, after the parliament speaker had advised against it.
KATHMANDU: Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah may keep his distinctive dark sunglasses on during parliamentary proceedings due to medical reasons, according to an official. The parliament speaker had previously advised against it, but Shah has been granted an exemption. Known as Balen, the 36-year-old rapper-turned-politician is rarely seen without his rectangular shades, which he wears in campaign rallies, official engagements, and even in his official portrait.
Despite Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal's concerns about the appearance of such eyewear in the national legislature, Shah has received permission to wear them if they are medically necessary in bright light. Shah, who has been relatively low-profile since assuming office in March, is scheduled to attend a parliament session on Wednesday.
The dark glasses, often paired with all-black attire, have become a defining characteristic of Shah's public persona since his successful mayoral campaign in Kathmandu in 2022. The popularity of his look has led to the sale of replica sunglasses marketed as "Balen sunglasses."
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