Nepal’s youngest PM Balendra Shah says ‘eager to work closely’ with Narendra Modi after historic win

Modi had on Friday congratulated Shah following his swearing-in, which came days after his party, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), secured a historic victory in the general elections.

Responding to the message, Shah wrote on X from the official handle of the Nepali Prime Minister: “Thank you, PM @narendramodi, for your kind words and warm wishes. I am eager to work closely with you to advance the multifaceted relations between our two countries for the common prosperity of our people.”

In his congratulatory post, Modi said: “Warm congratulations to Mr. Balendra Shah on being sworn in as the Prime Minister of Nepal. Your appointment reflects the trust reposed in your leadership by the people of Nepal. I look forward to working closely with you to take India-Nepal friendship and cooperation to even greater heights for the mutual benefit of our two peoples.”

Shah, Nepal’s youngest Prime Minister, took the oath on Friday in a ceremony administered by President Ramchandra Paudel.

The election marked the first national polls since last year’s massive anti-government protests that led to the fall of the previous administration. Shah was elected leader of the RSP’s parliamentary party a day before his swearing-in.

In the March 5 elections, the RSP made history by winning nearly two-thirds of the seats in the 275-member House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Parliament. The outcome reflected a strong public rejection of traditional political parties and a decisive shift toward Shah, a political outsider popularly known as ‘Balen’.

The swearing-in ceremony, held in a Vedic–Sanatan tradition for the first time, featured conch blowing, recitations by 108 Batuks, and chants by 108 Buddhist monks, according to The Himalayan Times.

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A rapper-turned-politician and structural engineer by training, Shah previously served as Mayor of Kathmandu before resigning to contest the national elections.

He also emerged as a prominent voice during the youth-led protests that reshaped the country’s political landscape.