RAPPER-TURNED-POLITICIAN Balendra Shah -- popularly known as ‘Balen’ -- was on Friday sworn in as Nepal’s new Prime Minister, around six months after the dramatic collapse of the K P Sharma Oli Government in a unprecedented youth movement. The 35-year-old Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) leader was sworn in by President Ram Chandra Paudel at a ceremony at the President’s Office. The RSP had registered a landslide victory in this month’s parliamentary elections. Shah, a former Mayor of Kathmandu, is the youngest leader to be democratically elected to the top office in the Himalayan nation.

 

He is also the first person from the Madhes region to become the Prime Minister. Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted Shah shortly after the swearing-in cere Nepalese counterpart to take forward India-Nepal ties. “Your appointment reflects the trust reposed in your leadership by the people of Nepal. I look forward to working closely with you to take India-Nepal friendship and cooperation to even greater heights for the mutual benefit of our two peoples,” PM Modi posted on X. Nepal is important for India in the context of its overall strategic interests in the region, and leaders of the two countries have often noted the age-old “Roti Beti” relationship.

 

Land-locked Nepal relies heavily on India for the transportation of goods and services. Nepal’s access to the sea is through India, and it imports a predominant proportion of its requirements from and through India. Balen is the first democratically elected Prime Minister to be sworn in since the coalition Government led by former Prime Minister Oli was ousted in September last year, following the youth-led Gen Z protest against corruption, nepotism, and a social media ban that escalated into violence. Balen was a popular choice to lead the interim Government, but declined, saying he would rather head the Government by contesting the parliamentary election for a full term. “Congratulations to the newly appointed Prime Minister, Balendra Shah.

 

I feel all the more elated that a 35-year-old young man is my successor. I extend my best wishes to him. I wish him success in pushing forward the people’s mandate with vigour and rigour,” Karki posted on X after the ceremony. Apart from Balen, other Ministers also took the oath at the ceremony on Friday. Swarnim Wagle took the oath as the Minister of Finance, Shisir Khanal as Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Sudan Gurung as Minister for Home Affairs.

 

The new Prime Minister restructured the Cabinet and merged various Ministries to simplify Government operations and improve coordination. Shah himself retained the Defence and Industry, and Commerce portfolios, while the remaining 14 ministers took their oath at the special ceremony held at the official residence of the President, Shital Niwas. In the order of hierarchy, Minister for Finance Dr Swarnim Wagle holds the second spot, while Minister for Home Affairs, Sudan Gurung, ranks third, according to the President’s Office. The Youth and Sports Ministry was merged with the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, with Sasmita Pokharel heading the office.