Balendra Shah Takes Office as Nepal's Youngest Prime Minister

Balendra Shah Sworn in as Prime Minister of Nepal

On Friday, Balendra Shah, a former rapper turned politician, officially took the oath of office as Nepal's prime minister, according to reports.

The oath was administered by President Ramchandra Paudel during a ceremony held at the presidential office in Kathmandu.

This event marks a historic moment as Shah becomes the first prime minister from the Madhesi community and the youngest individual to assume this role in decades.

Shah, who previously served as the mayor of Kathmandu, rose to power after his Rastriya Swatantra Party secured 182 out of 275 seats in the recent elections held on March 5, following significant protests that led to the ousting of the previous government.

After his swearing-in, President Paudel also took the opportunity to swear in 14 additional ministers.

Known as Balen, Shah released his first public statement post-election through a rap song titled Jay Mahakaali, where he emphasized the importance of unity as a source of national strength.

The political turmoil that resulted in the previous government's downfall began with protests against a ban on 26 social media platforms in September, which escalated into widespread demonstrations against corruption and mismanagement.

Despite the lifting of the social media ban shortly after, the protests continued, leading to the resignation of the former prime minister, KP Oli, amid growing public discontent.

Tragically, the protests resulted in the deaths of at least 72 individuals.

The demonstrations were largely driven by younger generations, particularly those born between the late 1990s and 2010.

Following the political upheaval, Sushila Karki was appointed as interim prime minister until a new government could be established, and she recently stepped down from her position.

Karki expressed her confidence that the new government would focus on combating corruption, promoting good governance, creating job opportunities, and fostering economic growth.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to Shah, expressing eagerness to collaborate in enhancing the friendship and cooperation between India and Nepal for the benefit of both nations.