In a historic political moment, Balendra Shah, popularly known as ‘Balen’, was sworn in as Nepal’s 47th Prime Minister on Friday, marking an extraordinary rise from an independent mayor to the country’s top leadership position.
The oath ceremony was held at the Office of the President, where Ramchandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy under Article 76(1) of the Constitution. The event witnessed the presence of top dignitaries including Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut, National Assembly Chair Narayan Prasad Dahal, former prime ministers, senior officials, and members of the diplomatic community.
At just 35 years old, Shah has become one of the youngest Prime Ministers in Nepal’s history. A structural engineer by profession and a former figure in Nepal’s underground rap scene, his journey into mainstream politics has been unconventional and widely discussed.
Shah first rose to national prominence in 2022 when he contested and won the Kathmandu mayoral election as an independent candidate, defeating established party leaders. Running under the symbol of a walking stick, he secured 61,767 votes, ahead of Sirjana Singh who received 38,341 votes, and Keshav Sthapit who got 38,117 votes. His victory was seen as a strong message against traditional political systems and a sign of changing voter preferences.
A day before taking oath as Prime Minister, Shah was sworn in as a Member of Parliament, formally entering federal politics. The development came as Nepal’s newly elected Parliament convened its first session following elections held earlier this month.
The oath-taking ceremony for Members of Parliament took place at the under-construction Federal Parliament building at Singha Durbar, with senior-most lawmaker Arjun Narsingh KC administering the oath.
The recent elections saw the emergence of Rastriya Swatantra Party as the largest party with 182 seats, followed by Nepali Congress with 38 seats and Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) with 25 seats.
Notably, the previous Parliament had been dissolved in September 2025 amid widespread protests led largely by Gen-Z groups, reflecting deep public dissatisfaction with the political establishment.
Balen Shah’s rise now represents a dramatic shift in Nepal’s political landscape, signalling the growing influence of alternative leadership and youth-driven politics in the country.
