Balendra Shah 'Balen' Becomes Nepal's Youngest Prime Minister

Balendra Shah, affectionately known as 'Balen', has made history by becoming Nepal's youngest Prime Minister at the age of 35. Appointed by President Ramchandra Paudel, Balen leads the Rastriya Swatantra Party, which secured a significant victory in the recent elections. His swearing-in ceremony will blend Hindu and Buddhist traditions, and he is expected to form a compact cabinet. This appointment signifies a shift away from traditional political parties, reflecting the desires of a younger generation for change and transparency in governance. Balen's victory over a seasoned politician in a key constituency further underscores this transformative moment in Nepal's political landscape.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 27, 2026, 12:14 IST

Historic Appointment of Nepal's Youngest Leader

On March 27, Balendra Shah, popularly known as 'Balen', was officially appointed as the Prime Minister of Nepal, marking a significant milestone as the youngest individual to assume this role in the country's history.

The appointment was made by President Ramchandra Paudel, who selected Balen, the leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), in accordance with Article 76 (1) of the Constitution, as stated in a notice from the President's Office.

At just 35 years old, Balen also holds the distinction of being the first prime minister from the Madhes region.

The oath-taking ceremony for the new prime minister is set to take place at the President's Office, Sheetal Niwas, at 12:34 PM, as confirmed by Kiran Pokharel, the president's press advisor.

Balen's swearing-in will incorporate a unique mix of Hindu and Buddhist traditions, featuring elaborate rituals such as conch blowing by seven brahmins, the recitation of Vedic hymns by 108 young brahmins, and Buddhist scripture recitation by 107 Lamas, according to sources close to him.

It is anticipated that Balen will establish a compact cabinet, comprising between 15 to 18 ministers.

In a remarkable political shift, Nepal has chosen the former mayor of Kathmandu, Balendra Shah, and his RSP to lead the government, significantly diminishing the influence of traditional political parties in the first general elections following last year's Gen Z protests that called for generational change and a corruption-free governance.

The RSP, which nominated Balen as its prime ministerial candidate, achieved an impressive victory, securing 182 out of 275 seats in the House of Representatives (HoR), thus qualifying to form a majority government under Article 76 (1) of the Constitution.

In the HoR, 165 members are elected through direct voting, while 110 are chosen via proportional representation.

All newly elected members of the HoR took their oaths on Thursday.

Balen triumphed over four-time prime minister K P Sharma Oli in the Jhapa-5 constituency, a long-standing bastion of the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), winning by a substantial margin.