In Nepal, Balendra Shah is all set to become prime minister. A meeting of the RSP (Rastria Prajatantra Party) central committee in Kathmandu on Thursday saw him elected unanimously as leader of the parlliamentary party. President Sushila Karki is expected to appoint Balen prime minister on Friday at the formal oath taking ceremony.
According to the Kathmandu Post, RSP Chairman Rabi Lamichhane proposed him for the top job. There were reports earlier that he was reluctant but it appears to have blown over. The Post quoted Chandra Dev Bhatta, political analyst as saying “This result can be attributed more to Balen as a person than the RSP as a party. Not making him prime minister would be to deceive the electorate”.
He was referring to the two-thirds majority Balen led the party to, seen as an unprecedented result given that the party was days old and Balen himself had shown no desire to get involved in the elections.
Balen is expected to come under pressure immediately after taking over. The electorate is desperate for change, for good governance, development, jobs, and social justice. His priority may be to release the report into the killings during the GenZ uprising last year. Leaks so far suggest high level police and other officials involved and political connivance.
But that’s not all. It’s been 20 years since the a peace accord brought an end to the Maoist insurgency but even today, thousands of victims of the insurgency remain unknown. Two bodies, a truth and reconciliatiion commission and another on abducted persons have only collected complaints all these years.
Since Balen is of the generation that has not known the insurgency, he is seen as the best man to set things right. His challenge begins on Friday.
(With inputs from agencies)
