Nepal PM oath: Thirty-five-year-old rapper and engineer Balen Shah has taken oath as Nepal’s new Prime Minister. He was administered the oath of PM office by President Ramchandra Paudel at 12.34 PM (local time) at a ceremony in Kathmandu.
| Kathmandu: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) leader Balendra Shah takes oath as Prime Minister of Nepal
Video source: Nepal Television/YouTube
— ANI (@ANI)
Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen Shah, was sworn in as the 47th Prime Minister of Nepal. At 35, he is the youngest PM of the nation.
Balendra Shah, who’s also a musician and singer, released his latest song ‘Jay Mahakaali’ a day before his swear-in.
Jay Mahakaali Out Now :)https://t.co/XXTnFRVMjT
— Balen Shah (@ShahBalen)
President Paudel also administered the oath of office to 14 ministers.
Prime Minister Balen Shah will oversee the Defence, Commerce, and Industries portfolios. Economist and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) vice-chairperson Swarnim Wagle has been appointed Finance Minister, while educationist Sishir Khanal will serve as the new Foreign Affairs Minister. Wagle has been elected twice from Tanahun-1 to the House of Representatives, including in the March 5 parliamentary polls.
The crucial Home Ministry, which had drawn interest from several within the party, is set to go to Sudan Gurung. Gurung, who gained visibility during the Gen Z movement, represents Gorkha-2, reported Kathmandu Post.
Shishir Khanal will take charge of Foreign Affairs. He currently heads the party’s foreign affairs department.
For Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the portfolio will go to Khadka Raj Paudel, also known as Ganesh Paudel, a writer elected from Kaski-1. Dipak Sah, representing Mahottari, is slated to become Minister for Labour and Employment, the Kathmandu Post report stated.
Sasmit Pokharel, elected from Kathmandu-5, will oversee Education, Science and Technology, along with Youth and Sports. Meanwhile, Bikram Timilsina will head the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology.
Pratibha Rawal has been assigned Federal Affairs and General Administration, as well as Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation. A former journalist, Rawal entered parliament through the proportional representation system and also serves as the party’s co-spokesperson.
Biraj Bhakta Shrestha is set to lead the Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Ministry. Based in Kathmandu, he previously served as the party’s parliamentary leader.
Gita Chaudhary will handle Agriculture and Livestock Development, along with Forest and Environment. She joined the party shortly before the elections, was elected via proportional representation, and works as an advocate.
Sobita Gautam has been picked for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. A legal professional, she secured victory in Chitwan-3, defeating former Bharatpur mayor Renu Dahal.
(With inputs from Yubaraj Ghimire)
