Kumar Ben: The Genius Behind Balen

Summary

The video profiles Kumar Byanjankar, widely known as Kumar Ben, and argues that he played a significant behind-the-scenes role in Balen Shah’s political rise. It contrasts Ben’s low-profile public image—often associated with simple clothes and riding a motorbike—with claims that he became an influential strategist and, later, chief advisor to the prime minister.

Background and digital media

Ben grew up in Lalitpur in a politically active family. His father, Narsingh Byanjankar, was a long-serving independent ward chairman and is described as an influence on Ben’s political outlook.

The video traces Ben’s early influence to Nepal’s emerging social-media scene, especially the political satire page Troll Nepal. It also mentions Meme Nepal, Routine of Nepal Banda, and Nepali Adult Jokes, while noting that their management and connections to Ben varied.

Balen’s mayoral campaign

The video says Ben and Balen first met around 2071 BS and developed a close working relationship. For Balen’s 2079 BS Kathmandu mayoral campaign, Ben’s team reportedly interviewed 150–200 residents a day over five months to gather information about local concerns.

The video credits this research, social-media messaging, and a small campaign team with helping turn Balen’s public profile into a city-wide movement. It also says Routine of Nepal Banda may have helped draw attention to Balen. However, the page’s founder, Victor Poudel, denied taking sides and said the page covered candidates impartially. Balen won the mayoral election by a large margin.

From city hall to national politics

The video attributes several of Balen’s high-profile decisions as mayor—including action against illegal structures and encroachments—to planning and advice from his inner circle, with Ben playing a leading role.

It then portrays Ben as a key strategist during the political upheaval following the Genji movement. According to the account, Ben advised Balen against taking power without an election and helped organize discussions about forming a party or joining an existing one.

Alliance with the RSP and the election

The video says Ben helped negotiate an agreement between Balen and Rabi Lamichhane’s Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP): Lamichhane would remain party president, while Balen would be its prime-ministerial candidate if it won.

It presents Balen’s decision to contest against KP Oli in Jhapa-5 as a deliberate attempt to create a national contest between established and new political forces. The video says Balen won the seat by a large margin and the RSP secured a near two-thirds majority. It then describes Ben as a central architect of Balen’s rise to prime minister and says he was appointed chief advisor.

Allegations and disputes

The video emphasizes that serious allegations have been made about Ben’s influence but does not establish them as fact.

Reports by Nepal Khabar and The Kathmandu Post said Ben secretly travelled to India and met senior officials; some accounts named National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. Ben denied crossing into India, saying he travelled only to Simara, Hetauda, and Chitwan. The video notes that Nepal’s Foreign Ministry reportedly had no official information about such a visit.

RSP MP Amresh Kumar Singh accused the Prime Minister’s Secretariat and Ben of exercising power beyond the chief advisor’s formal authority. His claims included pressure on the Money Laundering Department’s director, influence over ministerial appointments and resignations, and officials being summoned to Ben’s home. The video says Ben is not shown answering or refuting all these claims in the material presented.

The video also cites an Ukera investigation reporting that Ben was arrested in 2067 BS in connection with an alleged illegal international call-bypass operation. The case was not taken to court after the district attorney reportedly found insufficient evidence. The video therefore does not establish his guilt.

Overall assessment

The documentary credits Ben with political skill and strategic influence, while warning that allegations of favoritism, back-channel dealings, and excessive authority require clarification or investigation. It concludes that public accountability is essential, including for leaders who came to power promising change.

The video also includes a sponsored Tecno Smartphone promotion for a festival-season prize draw and giveaway.

Presenters and contributors

• Presenter/narrator: Unnamed in the subtitles.
• Central figures discussed: Kumar Byanjankar (Kumar Ben), Balen Shah, Narsingh Byanjankar, Rabi Lamichhane, and Amresh Kumar Singh.
• Other named people cited: Manoj Sapkota, Victor Poudel, Ganesh Karki, Kaushal Shah, Robin Bharti, Om Prakash, Bhupdev Shah, Bibek Bastola, Sasmit Pokharel, Chandra Bhandari, Bhagwan Koirala, CK Raut, Resham Chaudhary, Gyanendra Shahi, Sagar Dhakal, KP Oli, Gauri Kumari Yadav, and Sushila Karki.
• Media and reporting sources mentioned: Nagarik News, Setopati, BBC, Nepal Khabar, The Kathmandu Post, Kantipur, and Ukera.