Engineer Balendra Shah Assumes Role as Prime Minister

President Ramchandra Paudel appointed Balendra Shah as Prime Minister on March 27. Elected from Jhapa-5, Balendra Shah has become Prime Minister in his very first term as a member of parliament. Starting his political journey as the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, he now leads a government with nearly a two-thirds majority. On March 27, in Kathmandu, Balendra Shah, appointed by President Paudel, will soon take his oath of office, formally assuming leadership of Nepal’s governance system.

Having been elected from Jhapa-5 in the House of Representatives election held on February 24, he has risen to the role of Prime Minister during his initial parliamentary tenure. Popular among the youth, Balendra’s leadership of a government commanding a rare two-thirds majority is considered a historic achievement in Nepal’s political landscape. Under Article 76(1) of the Constitution, he was appointed Prime Minister as leader of the majority party. At 36 years old, Balendra is a professional engineer by training. He became a well-known figure among the new generation four years ago as a rapper, before emerging as a prominent political leader upon winning the mayoral election in Kathmandu Metropolitan City.

Following the massive earthquake in 2015 (2072 BS), he actively participated in rescue and relief efforts and became known as a social worker. As a professional well-liked by the younger generation, as well as a rapper, poet, and writer, Balendra Shah’s political identity has garnered notable attention on social media and virtual platforms. Understanding that winning elections involves earning not only votes but also public trust, he proposed numerous plans in his electoral manifesto, including digital governance and an idea bank. When running for mayor, Shah pledged to focus on creating job opportunities based on skills rather than academic degrees.