Kathmandu, March 26: The National Independent Party (RSP) of Nepal has elected senior leader Balendra Shah as the leader of its parliamentary party, paving the way for him to become the new Prime Minister of the country.
The party had nominated Balendra Shah as its candidate for the Prime Minister position during the elections. He achieved a remarkable victory in the parliamentary elections held on March 5, winning 182 out of 275 seats in the House of Representatives.
Shah will take the oath of office as Prime Minister in a special ceremony conducted according to Hindu traditions in front of President Ramchandra Paudel on Friday.
The RSP’s central committee made the decision during a meeting on Thursday, appointing Shah, who previously served as the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, as the leader of the parliamentary party. This decision will take effect after the legislators’ oath-taking ceremony.
According to the party’s constitution, only the leader of the parliamentary party can assume the role of Prime Minister.
In line with an agreement made on December 28, 2022, between RSP President Rabi Lamichhane and Shah, the party formally endorsed Shah for the Prime Minister position with the support of its 182 lawmakers.
In the elections, Shah defeated former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli by a significant margin of 49,614 votes. Shah received 68,348 votes, while Oli garnered only 18,734 votes. This marks the highest number of votes received by any candidate in Nepal’s parliamentary elections since 1991.
Shah’s oath-taking ceremony will follow a unique tradition. Scheduled for 12:34 PM, the event will feature seven conch shell blowers, a ritual believed to ensure the success of auspicious endeavors.
Other rituals will also take place during the oath ceremony. 108 Vedic priests will chant for peace and prosperity, while 16 Buddhist monks will recite the Ashtamangala, considered auspicious in both Hindu and Buddhist traditions.
Balendra Shah entered politics in 2022 when he ran as an independent candidate for the Mayor of Kathmandu and won.
Born on April 27, 1990, in a Madhesi family in Kathmandu, Shah completed his early education in the city and later earned a master’s degree in structural engineering from India’s Visvesvaraya Technological University.
His engineering background has provided him with practical insights into infrastructure, urban development, and public works, shaping his administrative approach as the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
Balendra Shah’s journey represents the rise of a new generation of politicians who have quickly emerged in Nepal’s national political landscape in recent years.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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