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In a ceremony full of pomp and political buzz, Balen Shah was sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Nepal at a special event organized by the President’s office at Sheetal Niwas. The occasion saw a gathering of Nepal’s political heavyweights, but one name was noticeably missing.
Former PMs in the spotlight
The event attracted a lineup of former prime ministers, including Pushpa Kamal Dahal “Prachanda”, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Jhalanath Khanal, and Baburam Bhattarai.
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Also in attendance was Khil Raj Regmi, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and interim government head.
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These seasoned politicians shared the room with media flashes and the eager eyes of citizens watching the historic moment unfold. Everyone expected leaders from major parties to show up, but the absence of one former PM caused immediate chatter.
KP Sharma Oli stays away
KP Sharma Oli, former prime minister and current UML chairman, did not attend the oath-taking. His absence was particularly striking given that Shah defeated him in Jhapa-5 constituency in March 5, 2026 general election.
Oli had garnered only 18,734 votes, while Shah romped ahead with 68,348, marking a dramatic upset in Oli’s own stronghold.
Oli had stepped down from the prime minister post on September 9, 2025, following widespread protests triggered by a government-imposed social media ban and a nationwide movement against corruption.
During that turbulent time, he and other ministers had even taken shelter in an army barrack in Shivapuri.
Another notable absentee was Sher Bahadur Deuba, former Nepali Congress president and ex-prime minister, who could not attend because he was abroad.
Balen Shah: From local hero to national star
Shah’s rise has been meteoric. He made his electoral debut for Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) at rally in Janakpur on January 19, 2026 by presenting himself as a son of Madhesh, born in Mahottari District and promising to expand party’s influence beyond urban centers.
His choice to contest Jhapa-5, directly challenging four-time former PM Oli, was bold and paid off spectacularly.
The RSP emerged as dominant force early on. The party led in all ten Kathmandu Valley constituencies by leaving rivals like Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and CPN (Maoist Centre) trailing far behind.
Also Read: Political Snub in Kathmandu: Veteran MP Amresh Kumar Singh turns down ministerial position, Balen Shah keeps top ministries
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