In a message sent on Friday, India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, congratulated Balendra Shah on becoming prime minister of Nepal and emphasised India’s intention to further enhance bilateral relations and cooperation.
In a post on X, Modi highlighted his trust in Shah’s leadership and his willingness to collaborate closely with Nepal to strengthen India-Nepal relations for the sake of both countries’ economies and development.
After his Rastriya Swatantra Party won a resounding mandate in the most recent parliamentary elections, Shah took the oath of office as party leader. Ram Chandra Paudel formalised his appointment in accordance with constitutional norms.
Securing 182 out of 275 seats, the RSP achieved a near two-thirds majority, signalling a dramatic political shift. This reflects the growing preference of voters for younger leadership and governance reform. Shah, at 35 years of age, becomes one of the youngest prime ministers in Nepal, highlighting a larger generational shift in the political scene of the nation.
Shah rose to prominence as an administrator and an advocate for urban development during his time as mayor of Kathmandu. Strong public support and changing political dynamics are indicators of his meteoric climb to power, which included an electoral triumph over K. P. Sharma Oli, the former prime minister.
Shah is anticipated to place a focus on infrastructure and development-driven governance, fields that could pave the way for new forms of partnership between India and Nepal. He holds a degree in structural engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University.
