Balendra Shah Sworn In as Nepal’s Youngest Prime Minister After Landslide Election Victory
Former Kathmandu mayor, 35, takes oath in elaborate ceremony as his Rastriya Swatantra Party secures near two-thirds parliamentary majority following youth-led uprising that ousted previous government
KATHMANDU — March 27, 2026 — Balendra Shah, the 35-year-old former mayor of Kathmandu and political outsider known widely as “Balen,” was sworn in as Nepal’s 46th Prime Minister on Friday, March 27, marking a historic generational shift in the Himalayan nation’s politics after his party secured a landslide victory in parliamentary elections earlier this month .
President Ramchandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to Shah at a special ceremony held at the Office of the President, Sheetal Niwas, in Kathmandu at 12:34 p.m. local time — a time chosen by Hindu priests as auspicious based on astrological calculations . The timing also followed a “1-2-3-4” numerological pattern that Hindu priests consider favorable .
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Shah, who leads the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), becomes the youngest democratically elected prime minister in Nepal’s history . He is also the first leader from the Madhesi community — the Terai region bordering India — to hold the country’s top executive post .
Landslide Victory and Rise to Power
The RSP secured 182 of the 275 seats in the House of Representatives in the March 5 parliamentary elections, defeating established political parties by a wide margin . The victory came less than a year after massive, youth-led protests in September 2025 that ousted the previous government led by former prime minister KP Sharma Oli .
Shah won his parliamentary seat from Jhapa constituency-5 in eastern Nepal, defeating Oli — a four-time prime minister — by a substantial margin in what was considered Oli’s home constituency and a long-standing stronghold of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) .
The RSP was founded by former television journalist Rabi Lamichhane ahead of the 2022 parliamentary election. Under an agreement reached before Shah formally joined the party, Lamichhane remains party president while Shah was backed as the prime ministerial candidate and ranks second in the party hierarchy .
Shah resigned as mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City in January 2026, before completing his five-year term, to enter national politics .
Elaborate Swearing-In Ceremony
The oath-taking ceremony was conducted in Vedic-Sanatan tradition, featuring the blowing of seven conch shells (shankhanaad), recitations by 108 young priests (Batuks), and chanting by 108 Buddhist monks (ashtamangal) . The ceremony was attended by Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut, former prime ministers, senior officials, security chiefs, and members of the diplomatic community .
Hundreds of Shah’s supporters gathered outside the presidential residence and later at the prime minister’s office in Singha Durbar, the government complex that houses most ministries and was damaged during the September protests . The buildings have since been repaired .
Following the swearing-in, Shah entered his new office at 14:15 p.m. — another time chosen for its “14-15” numerical pattern considered auspicious .
Cabinet Formation
Shah formed a 15-member Cabinet after taking oath, retaining the Defence and Industry portfolios for himself .
The key Cabinet appointments include:
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- Swarnim Wagle (RSP vice-chair) – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance. An economist with expertise in economic affairs, he was elected twice from Tanahun-1 to the House of Representatives .
- Sudhan Gurung – Minister for Home Affairs. He rose to prominence during the Gen Z movement that toppled the previous government .
- Shishir Khanal – Minister for Foreign Affairs. He heads the RSP’s foreign affairs department .
- Biraj Bhakta Shrestha – Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation. He previously served as the RSP’s parliamentary party leader .
- Sunil Lamsal – Minister for Physical Infrastructure, Transport and Urban Development .
- Khadka Raj Paudel – Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. A writer, he was elected from Kaski-1 .
- Sasmit Pokharel – Minister for Education, Science and Technology, and Youth and Sports. Elected from Kathmandu-5 .
- Nisha Mehta – Minister for Health and Population .
- Bikram Timilsina – Minister for Communication and Information Technology .
- Pratibha Rawal – Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration. A journalist by background, she was elected under the proportional representation system .
- Sobita Gautam – Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. A legal expert, she defeated former Bharatpur mayor Renu Dahal in Chitwan-3 .
- Dipak Sah – Minister for Labour and Employment .
- Geeta Chaudhary – Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, and Forest and Environment. An advocate, she was elected under proportional representation .
- Sita Badi – Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens .
A Political Outsider’s Journey
Shah’s rise to the prime ministership represents an extraordinary political journey. A structural engineer and former rap artist, he first gained prominence in the 2022 local elections when he ran as an independent candidate and defeated candidates from established parties by overwhelming margins to become mayor of Kathmandu, the country’s most populous metropolis .
During his tenure as mayor, Shah was noted for urban reforms, heritage conservation, and infrastructure development . He became a prominent voice during the September 2025 youth-led uprising against corruption, nepotism, and a social media ban — a movement that escalated into violence and left dozens dead . Although he did not directly participate in the protests, Shah publicly expressed support for the largely Generation Z demonstrators who led the movement .
International Congratulations
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first international leaders to congratulate Shah, posting a message on X (formerly Twitter).
“Your appointment reflects the trust reposed in your leadership by the people of Nepal,” Modi said. “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” .
Challenges Ahead
Shah inherits a government tasked with navigating deep public frustration with Nepal’s established political parties, which were widely blamed by voters for corruption and chronic political instability . His administration will also need to address economic challenges and maintain Nepal’s delicate diplomatic balance between its giant neighbors, India and China.
As he entered Singha Durbar to assume his new responsibilities, Shah signaled his intent to govern differently from the traditional political establishment that his party decisively defeated in the March elections. With a near two-thirds majority in parliament, his RSP has a strong mandate to pursue the anti-corruption agenda and generational change that resonated so powerfully with Nepali voters.
SOURCES / INPUTS
Radio Nepal Online: Balendra Shah sworn in as 46th Prime Minister of Nepal, new cabinet takes oath
Anadolu Ajansı: Nepal’s youngest prime minister Balendra Shah sworn in after election landslide
The Kathmandu Post: Balendra Shah sworn in as prime minister
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