Kathmandu, 27 March (H.S.):
Balendra Shah, better known as Balen and leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party’s parliamentary group, was sworn in as Nepal’s new Prime Minister on Friday. President Ram Chandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to the 36‑year‑old at the Shital Niwas presidential residence in a special ceremony, marking the start of a fresh political chapter in the Himalayan republic.
Earlier on the same day, President Paudel formally appointed Shah as Prime Minister under Article 76(1) of the Constitution, following the RSP’s emergence as the single largest party in the House of Representatives. This is the first time since the 2015 Constitution (2072 BS) came into force that a Prime Minister has been appointed using this particular provision, underscoring the novelty of the move. The swearing‑in also makes Shah the first person from the Madheshi community to head Nepal’s Council of Ministers, a significant milestone in the country’s coalition politics.
Shah’s political journey has been notably swift. After stepping down as Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, he contested the parliamentary polls from Jhapa‑5 and defeated former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli by nearly 50,000 votes. Within weeks of entering the House of Representatives, he has now assumed the office of Prime Minister, reinforcing the RSP’s image as a fast‑rising, urban‑driven political force.
In his first cabinet reshuffle, Shah has assigned key portfolios to close allies. Swarnim Wagle has been named Finance Minister, while Suvash Gurung has taken charge of the Home Ministry. Foreign Affairs has been
handed to Shishir Khandelwal, and Sunil Lamsal has been put in charge of the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure, Transport and Urban Development.
Viraaj Bhakta Shrestha leads the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, while Khadga Raj Poudel (Ganesh) has been made Tourism Minister. Samim Pokhrel has been given the portfolios of Education, Science and Technology as well as Youth and Sports, and Nisha Mehta has taken over the Health and Population Ministry.
Vikram Thapaliya has been named Minister for Communication, Pratibha Rawal holds the post of General Administration Minister, Dipak Sah is the new Minister for Labour and Employment, and Sovita Gautam has been appointed Law Minister. Geeta Chaudhary oversees the Ministries of Agriculture and Livestock Development along with Forests and Environment, while Sita Wadekar has been made Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens.
The line‑up reflects a mix of technocrats, youth icons and regional faces, as the new Prime Minister seeks to consolidate support across Nepal’s diverse political and social landscape.
---------------
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
