Balendra Shah has been sworn in as the youngest Prime Minister of Nepal after a landslide victory in the recent elections . President Ram Chandra Paudel appointed him as the head of government under Article 76(1) of the Constitution at a formal ceremony held in the capital Kathmandu on Friday .
Shah’s Rashtriya Swayamsevak Party (RSP) came into power in the lower house of parliament, the House of Representatives, after winning a landslide victory in the elections held earlier this month . The party has established a clear advantage over the country’s traditional political forces by winning nearly two-thirds of the seats.
The 35-year-old Shah, also known as ‘Balen’, is a relative newcomer to mainstream politics. A structural engineer by profession, he first gained popularity as a musician. He later established himself in the public eye by being elected mayor of Kathmandu.
The political landscape of the country changed dramatically after the mass protests led by youth in September last year over corruption, unemployment and civil liberties. Shah’s party emerged as a new alternative in the elections held against the backdrop of that unrest. Although he was not directly on the streets during the protests, he publicly supported the demands of the young generation.
Shah’s major challenges as the new prime minister include ensuring political stability, tackling corruption and alleviating long-standing public discontent. Analysts say his leadership could set a new direction for the country’s politics in a context of public distrust of established parties.