Kathmandu

One month after taking office, Balendra Shah, popularly known as Balen, is navigating a mix of public optimism, governance reforms and rising controversies.

Backed by a near two-thirds majority in Parliament, Shah assumed office on March 27 after the March 5 elections, which were driven largely by a Gen Z-backed political wave in Nepal. His rise had created hopes among younger voters seeking an alternative to the country’s traditional political establishment.

At his first cabinet meeting, Shah approved a 100-point governance reform agenda. The plan includes reducing the number of federal ministries, merging loss-making boards and committees, depoliticising civil servants and teachers, and improving citizen services such as passports, licences and citizenship documents through postal delivery.

Other proposals include implementing recommendations of a commission led by Gauri Bahadur Karki, reviving stalled projects, digitising investment services and preparing a long-term energy export strategy.

However, the first month has also been marked by turbulence. Two ministers have already left the cabinet. Labour Minister Deepak Sah was recalled after controversy over appointing his spouse to the Health Insurance Board, while Home Minister Sudan Gurung resigned amid criticism over alleged links to a businessman under investigation.

The government also faced backlash over attempts to implement the Karki Commission report without clear legal grounding and over the arrests of former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, who were later released by court orders.

Despite campaigning on transparency, Shah has kept a low public profile, neither addressing the nation nor holding a press conference since taking office. Critics have also questioned his silence regarding allegations involving Rabi Lamichhane in cooperative scam cases.

The ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party has also proposed amendments that would delay disqualification of lawmakers until formal indictment, a move opponents say protects those in power.

Policy moves have drawn mixed reactions. A new two-day weekend has been welcomed by some but resisted by local governments and schools adjusting schedules. On jobs, many young voters say promised domestic employment opportunities have yet to materialise, with migration abroad still high.

Meanwhile, evictions of riverside squatters have raised human rights concerns, while tighter regulation at the India-Nepal border and rising fuel prices have added to public discontent.

Some citizens, however, point to improvements such as longer office hours in government departments and faster delivery of driving licences. Shah has also signalled a new diplomatic style by meeting ambassadors collectively rather than through one-on-one sessions.

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For now, Nepal’s young political wave continues to watch closely as Shah’s government balances ambitious reforms with mounting scrutiny over delivery and credibility.