President Ramchandra Paudel has appointed Balendra Shah (Balen), the parliamentary leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), as the Prime Minister of Nepal. Shah was appointed as the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives in accordance with Article 76(1) of the Constitution.
This marks the first time since the promulgation of Nepal’s Constitution in 2015 that Article 76(1) has been used to appoint a Prime Minister. The development is being viewed as a significant constitutional milestone in the country’s parliamentary history.
With this appointment, Shah also becomes the first Prime Minister from the Madhesi community, signaling a new phase in Nepal’s efforts toward inclusive political representation.
Previously serving as the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Shah resigned from his post to contest the elections held on February 21. Notably, he became Prime Minister shortly after entering the federal parliament for the first time.
Political analysts interpret Shah’s rapid rise as a reflection of shifting voter sentiment and the growing influence of a new generation in Nepal’s political landscape.