Nepal Election 2082: Who Will Select Ministers in Balen’s Government and What Will the Cabinet Look Like?
Image source, Reuters
With the proportional representation vote count now completed, public interest is focusing on when the new government will be formed.
Leaders of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) have announced, based on results from both the direct and proportional electoral systems, that a new government will be led by senior leader Balendra Shah (Balen). During the election, the party had unveiled him as their prospective prime minister candidate.
An RSP leader has revealed that after selecting proportional representation members of parliament (MPs), discussions on forming the government will advance further.
The Election Commission is preparing to promptly notify parties about their proportional representation MPs. Commissioner Sagun Shamsher Jabara stated, “We are aiming to send letters as early as today, if possible.”
Jabara also mentioned that parties will likely be given two days to select their proportional MPs, with the final election report planned to be submitted to the President by Chaitra 5 (March 18, 2026).
When will the government be formed?
The Election Commission has announced that political parties will finalize the seat distribution based on proportional votes by this Thursday.
Parties such as RSP, Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, Nepal Communist Party, Labour Culture Party, and National Democratic Party, which have crossed the three percent threshold, will receive proportional seats.
RSP leaders have indicated that once the Election Commission dispatches notifications to select proportional MPs, talks on government formation will commence.
“It may take two to three days. We will know who the MPs are, and only then will discussions on forming the government progress,” Khanal told this news outlet.
“This is a very preliminary and informal dialogue. Formal talks within the party will commence within a day or two,” he added.
Image source, Reuters
Who will select the ministers?
Though the decision to appoint senior leader Balen as prime minister has been made, RSP has not yet officially addressed the process for selecting ministers.
Interest is growing regarding who will become ministers in the Balen administration and who will be responsible for their selection.
According to RSP central committee member and former education minister Shishir Khanal, both party chairman Ravi Lamichhane and senior leader Balen Shah will play key roles in ministerial appointments.
“Traditionally, we have entrusted the party chairperson with selecting ministers, but this time the roles of two individuals will be significant,” he said.
Former RSP MP and leader Asim Shah had earlier conveyed via social media that senior leader Balen Shah would personally select the ministers, advising others not to campaign for ministerial positions.
“There is no need to hustle, negotiate, undergo media scrutiny, or campaign to become a minister. Doing nothing is also acceptable. Once Balen Shah assumes office as prime minister, he will select his cabinet team personally. He has a good understanding of all MPs’ qualifications and capabilities,” he wrote on Facebook.
Experts or MPs as ministers?
A debate has begun over whether to appoint ministers from among experts outside parliament or from elected MPs.
Leader Khanal revealed that RSP plans to appoint experts outside parliament as ministers under a directly executive prime minister.
However, constitutionally, individuals outside the Federal Parliament can only serve as ministers for six months.
“After six months, those ministers need to become MPs to continue serving. Currently, options for making them MPs within six months are limited,” Khanal said.
“The election has just concluded. Currently, only one National Assembly seat is vacant. Without constitutional amendments, I don’t foresee this becoming operational,” he added.
Image source, RSP/Facebook
RSP leaders have indicated plans to form a relatively small-sized cabinet, similar to previous governments.
“Our manifesto mentions 18 ministries. I foresee the initial cabinet consisting of about 15 members,” Khanal stated.
“This smaller cabinet will clearly send messages of good governance, transparency, and fiscal prudence,” he added.
According to Khanal, past experience suggests that the RSP might also establish a party committee to provide necessary advice to the government.
“When we last formed a government, a coordination committee was set up under my chairmanship to ensure coordination between the party and government. I anticipate a similar committee could be formed to coordinate Parliament, government, and party activities. However, this has not yet been formally decided—I am sharing this based on experience,” he explained.
What about the provinces?
There is some curiosity about RSP’s plans regarding provincial structure after winning just under two-thirds of the seats.
However, Khanal stated that without constitutional amendments, substantial improvements to the provincial system are unlikely.
“Our manifesto includes the formation of a committee to prepare a ‘discussion paper’ regarding constitutional amendments, which will guide forthcoming discussions,” he clarified.
“Because constitutional amendments are complex and require national consensus, our primary objective will be preparing this paper on constitutional amendments.”
In Nepal, some argue that the provincial structure is unnecessary, while others advocate for strengthening it through reforms.
Constitutional amendments require at least two-thirds majority support in both houses of the Federal Parliament from existing members.
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