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Who is Balendra Shah really? In a political landscape long dominated by familiar faces and predictable ideologies, Shah stands as an anomaly. A former rapper, a structural engineer, and the mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City from 2022 to 2026, he now appears poised to become Nepal’s youngest prime minister.

And yet, for someone on the brink of leading a nation, remarkably little is known about what he actually believes. What is his political ideology? Does he lean toward liberal democracy, conservatism, socialism—or something entirely different? What economic path would he chart for Nepal? Where does he stand on republicanism and federalism, the very foundations of the modern Nepali state? And perhaps most crucially, how would he navigate Nepal’s delicate foreign relations in a geopolitically sensitive region?

These are not minor gaps in understanding—they are fundamental questions. And so far, they remain unanswered.

Shah’s association with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) offers only limited clues. While the party’s manifesto hints at priorities like governance reform and anti-corruption, it remains ambiguous at best. Shah himself deepens the mystery. Once an independent candidate who rode a wave of public frustration to power, he has maintained a conspicuous distance even after rising within party ranks. He rarely attends party meetings, avoids internal processes, and remains detached from organizational routines.

His silence is not new—it is his style. Unlike traditional politicians who thrive on speeches, slogans, and public visibility, Shah operates in near-opacity. During his entire election campaign, he spoke publicly for barely 30 minutes. Since then, he has neither delivered major speeches nor granted substantive interviews. Even recent internal party events, such as lawmaker orientations and key selection meetings, have proceeded without him, often without explanation.

This absence is not accidental. It is deliberate. Those close to Shah describe a leader who believes that excessive interaction breeds complications. “He meets only essential people,” one senior RSP leader admits, hinting at a tightly controlled inner circle. Even senior party figures reportedly struggle to access him. Behind closed doors, Shah is said to be meticulously planning—reportedly focused on forming a lean, efficient cabinet.

The international community is watching closely. Nepal’s strategic position demands a leader who can articulate a coherent foreign policy. Investors, too, seek predictability in economic direction. At home, citizens deserve to know not just what Shah opposes, but what he stands for. For now, Shah remains an enigma: a leader defined as much by his silence as by his ascent.

The Election Commission has reported that Rs 3. 54 billion was spent to conduct the elections to the House of Representatives held on March 5. 

According to the Commission, it had initially requested Rs 7.81 billion for the polls, of which the Ministry of Finance approved Rs 6.76 billion. Of the received budget, only Rs 3.54 billion was spent.

However, some amount is yet to be paid for the spending liability, added EC.

Out of 50 types of election materials, 37 types of election materials were purchased from province and district election offices. 

The EC had purchased only 13 types of materials and dispatched them to districts. 

At a news conference organized  by EC after submitting a comprehensive report on HoR elections to President Ram Chandra Paudel on Thursday, Joint-

 Secretary and EC Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Poudel states that Rs 284 per voter was spent in the elections to the House of Representatives.

The EC had adopted a policy of using the election materials purchased in the past in order to make the election frugal. 

A total of 164 persons as the international observers conducted the monitoring of HoR elections. 

Similarly, 35 NGOs worked as national observers. 

The EC extended gratitude to all voters for making the HoR elections irrespective of difficult circumstances. 

It also thanked the government, provincial government, local levels, chief returning officers, election officers, all security bodies, employees involved in election, security personnel, political parties, candidates, voters, observers, international community and media for their positive roles in holding the elections successful.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) has requested one and all to adopt precautions, reasoning about the possibility of heavy rains and storms for the next three days.

Issuing a press release on Thursday, NDRRMA urged everyone to remain alert. 

According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, heavy rainfall and snowfall are predicted in the hilly and mountainous regions of Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces for the next three days. 

High speed wind is likely to occur in Dang, Nepalgunj and Tarai areas of Lumbini Province. 

The Department mentioned that the storm would occur at a speed of 119 kilometer per hour in Biratnagar, Dhankuta, Dharan and the surrounding districts till Saturday. 

It is shared that the wind may pose risks, causing damages in various structures, including disruption in electricity and communication services. 

Under-Secretary at NDRRMA, Ram Bahadur KC, requested the locals of these areas to avoid unnecessary travel, stay in safer places and stop operating vehicles so that they could minimize damages and harms.  

Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa has resigned from his post. 

The party office has stated that Thapa tendered his resignation on Wednesday.

Thapa was unanimously elected as the President by the special general convention of the Nepali Congress held in mid-January earlier this year. 

He was under pressure to resign, following his own defeat and a poor showing of the party in the March 5 election to the House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress has summoned a central working committee meeting for tomorrow, Friday.