In a historic political development, Balendra Shah was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Nepal on Friday, becoming the first leader from the Madhesi community to hold the country’s highest executive office.
The oath of office and secrecy was administered by President Ramchandra Paudel at a special ceremony held at Sheetal Niwas. The ceremony reflected Nepal’s cultural diversity, featuring traditional shankhanaad (conch shell blowing), swastishanti recitations by 108 Batuks, and ashtamangal chants performed by Buddhist monks.
A Political Upset and a New Era
Shah, a senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), secured a decisive victory in the March 5 parliamentary elections from Jhapa constituency-5 under the first-past-the-post system. In a significant political upset, he defeated veteran leader KP Sharma Oli, whose party stronghold had long dominated the region.
From Rapper to Prime Minister
An unconventional figure in South Asian politics, Shah is both a structural engineer and a former rapper who rose to national prominence after winning the 2022 Kathmandu mayoral elections as an independent candidate. His victory, achieved against candidates from established political parties, was seen as a signal of growing public demand for political change.
He served as Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City from May 2022 until January 2026, before formally joining the RSP later that year and transitioning into national politics.
Formation of a Diverse Cabinet
Alongside Shah, President Paudel administered the oath to 14 cabinet ministers, reflecting a mix of technocrats, young leaders, and political newcomers.
Key appointments include:
- Swarnim Wagle as Finance Minister
- Sudan Gurung as Home Minister
- Shishir Khanal as Foreign Minister
- Khadka Raj Paudel handling Culture, Tourism & Civil Aviation
- Dipak Sah as Labour & Employment Minister
- Sasmit Pokharel overseeing Education, Science & Technology, Youth & Sports
- Bikram Timilsina leading Communication & IT
- Pratibha Rawal managing Federal Affairs and Land-related portfolios
- Biraj Bhakta Shrestha as Energy Minister
- Gita Chaudhary heading Agriculture and Environment
- Sobita Gautam as Law Minister
- Sita Badi overseeing Women, Children & Senior Citizens
- Sunil Lamsal in charge of Infrastructure & Urban Development
- Nisha Mehata leading Health and Population
Significance of the Leadership Shift
Shah’s rise signals a broader transformation in Nepal’s political landscape, marked by the emergence of new-age leadership, youth-driven movements, and a shift away from traditional party dominance. His journey from an independent mayor to the Prime Minister underscores the growing influence of alternative political forces in the country.
