Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated Balendra Shah on his swearing-in as Nepal’s Prime Minister, expressing optimism about strengthening bilateral ties and deepening cooperation for the mutual benefit of both nations.
Taking to X, PM Modi posted, “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,” the post further read.
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…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 27, 2026
Balendra Shah, leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party’s parliamentary wing, assumed office after securing strong political backing.
Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel formally appointed him under Article 76(1) of the Constitution.
The development followed his selection as parliamentary leader after his party secured a decisive electoral victory.
The Rastriya Swatantra Party won 182 of 275 seats in the House of Representatives, reflecting a dominant mandate.
Shah also defeated former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli by a margin exceeding 49,000 votes in Jhapa-5, recording the highest vote tally in parliamentary contests since 1991.
Aged 35, Shah is among Nepal’s youngest prime ministers, signalling a generational shift in the country’s political landscape.
Born in Kathmandu, Shah pursued higher education in engineering and completed his master’s degree from Visvesvaraya Technological University. He first rose to prominence in 2022 after winning the Kathmandu mayoral election as an independent candidate.
A prominent youth figure, he entered national politics recently and quickly gained widespread public support. His technical background shaped his governance approach, particularly in urban planning and infrastructure during his tenure as mayor.
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