NEPALI POLITICS

Whether the Balendra "Balen" Shah -led government will complete its full five-year term seems mathematically and politically viable but remains uncertain. His Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) holds a strong majority with 182 out of 275 seats in the House of Representatives (HOR). This gives his government a strong political holding and leads the country with a comfortable majority to fulfil its objectives and mission. However, the smooth administration and timely and successful implementation of development activities as desired by his government depends totally on the traditional bureaucratic system which could threaten its stability and political uncertainty. Key Factors Threatening Longevity Internal Party Dissent: It recently completed 100 days its term, several ruling party lawmakers began publicly criticizing Prime Minister Shah's rigid leadership style and the government's policy execution. Institutional Resistance: The administration's sweeping 100-...

Prime Minister Balen Shah’s government has broken from decades of entrenched patronage politics  in its 100 days as called " honeymoon period ". Marked by rapid shifts, sweeping administrative overhauls, and bold foreign policy maneuvers, his tenure has generated several defining political surprises. Sweeping Governance & Administration Overhauls: A New Cabinet Standard : His government bypassed traditional veteran politicians, forming a 15-member cabinet that made national headlines for exclusively consisting of highly educated professionals. Dismantling Party Unions: In his first cabinet meeting, he shocked the civil service by pushing to abolish party-affiliated trade unions and aggressively streamlining federal ministries from 25 down to 17. The " 100-Point Agenda " : His governemnt immediately published a strict, delivery-focused 100-point reform agenda with measurable deadlines, aiming to completely digitize office management and track adminis...

In the general elections held on March 5, 2026 the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) won overwhelmingly 182 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives (HOR). Accordingly, a new majority government was formed under the leadership of RSP senior leader Balendra (Balen) Shah , without the support of any political party.    The RSP enjoys a comfortable majority government, whereas the oppositions are in weak positions in the national political history. The Nepali Congress (NC) has been reduced to a mere 38 seats. The CPN-UML holds 25, the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) 17, the Shram Sanskriti Party (SSP) 7, and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) just 5. No other party managed to get even 10 percent of the total seats other than the NC. When the opposition is significantly weaker than a strong ruling party, the foundational checks and balances of a democratic system might be significantly weakened or break down. This has raised a fundamental question for the democratic republic ...

Sudan Gurung , who is a Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker, had earlier resigned from the position of Home Minister saying that he was stepping aside to ensure an impartial investigation and avoid any conflict of interest, has been reinstated on Tuesday, 9thJune 2026, after an official investigation into his finances found no wrongdoing, paving the way for his return to the office. A government-appointed investigation committee led by former High Court Judge Achyut Prasad Bhattarai submitted a 45-page report to Prime Minister Balendra (Balen) Shah at Singha Durbar on Friday, 5th June 2026 clearing him of corruption allegations and opening the door for his possible return to the post. Independent lawmaker Mahabir Pun, who was also the minister in the interim government of Sushila Karki , has also been appointed as the Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation along with Gurung. His appointment has created a rare episode in Nepal's political history. None of the in...