Author: space4knews

March 26 (Chaitra 13), Kathmandu – Newly appointed Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has assumed his duties.

Khanal, who took his oath at the President’s Office Sheetal Niwas on Friday afternoon, reached the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office at Singha Durbar the same day to formally take office.

Also serving as Foreign Department chief of the Rastriya Samajwadi Party, he was assigned the Foreign Ministry portfolio by the party’s sole government.

March 26, Kathmandu – Virajbhakta Shrestha has been appointed the Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation.

In the cabinet formed today under the leadership of Balendra Sah, 44-year-old Shrestha, elected from Kathmandu Constituency No. 8, assumed the position of Energy Minister.

Shrestha defeated Suman Sayami of the Communist Party of Nepal by a margin of 21,375 votes; Shrestha secured 24,592 votes whereas Sayami received only 3,217 votes.

He also won the 2022 elections from the same constituency, where he defeated Sayami once again.

Starting his political career with the Bibeksheel Sajha Party, Shrestha served as a provincial assembly member in Bagmati Province and previously held the position of Minister for Youth and Sports in the federal government.

Holding a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Shrestha began his career in hotel and restaurant management and worked as an employee on various projects. His public image transformed significantly after the 2015 earthquake.

At that time, the volunteer group he led collected and distributed relief materials and conducted health camps for underprivileged communities from Mustang to Bardibas.

Committed to environmental conservation, he established the ‘Force Nepal’ organization and launched campaigns such as ‘One Tree – My Responsibility,’ which helped him connect deeply with grassroots communities.

Before the 2017 elections, Shrestha joined Bibeksheel Sajha’s campaign alongside Ujjwal Thapa. After winning a seat in the Bagmati Provincial Assembly through the proportional representation list, his working style attracted widespread attention.

Shrestha is among the few politicians who annually publish reports about their work. He played a crucial role in passing legislation to recognize Nepal Bhasa and Tamang as official languages for government work in Bagmati Province.

When the federal government proposed the Guthi Bill, he strongly protested both on the streets and in parliament, representing the sentiments of the Newar community.

Due to ideological differences and the release of a ‘royalist’ document by then Bibeksheel Sajha chairman Rabindra Mishra, Shrestha parted ways with the party.

In the 2022 elections, running under the Rastriya Swatantra Party banner from Kathmandu-8, Shrestha won with 10,112 votes, while the candidate from Hamro Nepali Party, Suman Sayami, received 6,179 votes.

During his tenure in the federal parliament, Shrestha actively worked towards good governance and improvements in the sports sector. Although his time as Minister for Youth and Sports was brief, his initiatives to eliminate malpractices and boost athletes’ morale earned him a reputation as a capable young leader.

March 26 (Chaitra 13), Kathmandu – Five former prime ministers participated in Prime Minister Balen’s swearing-in ceremony.

The special oath-taking ceremony held at the President’s office, Sheetal Niwas, was attended by former Prime Ministers Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, Madhav Kumar Nepal, Jhal Nath Khanal, and Baburam Bhattarai.

Additionally, Interim Government Chief and former Supreme Court Chief Justice Khil Raj Regmi was also present at the ceremony.

However, former Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli was absent from the event. Former Speaker and Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba could not attend due to being abroad on an official visit.

Balen Shah, one of Nepal’s youngest prime ministers in history, is about to enter Singha Durbar today. Given the proximity of the nation’s highest executive office and his personal stature, the public holds very high expectations.

Commanding a historic mandate from the election on 21st Falgun, Balen’s significant duty will be to advance the nation by harmonizing the people’s mandate embedded in the constitution and the legacy of past major struggles and movements.

Having secured close to a two-thirds majority, he bears the solemn responsibility to diligently establish the foundation for good governance and development in accordance with the constitution’s spirit. This constitution bears not only the strong influence of past figures defeated by the election but also shadows of those long marginalized and excluded.

The sweeping popular mandate highlights the inclusive nature of the federal constitution. The election results emphasize the necessity of governance, employment, and economic opportunity creation. How the pledges of Raswapa’s manifesto will influence the days ahead remains a matter of widespread interest. Both the constitutional mandate and the electoral verdict must be continuously embraced and pursued by Balen’s government.

Reliable implementation and timely amendment of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal is essential, and this has become increasingly significant in the current context.

As an artist, Balen has previously created songs and poems advocating for the marginalized. During the Gen Z movement, he was sought as a prime ministerial candidate but declined, citing his duties as mayor at the time. Subsequently, former Chief Justice Sushila Karki was appointed prime minister.

There were ambiguities and controversies in the constitution’s early implementation. At that time, it was analyzed that only a powerful civilian government and election could safeguard it.

Post-election, those debaters have now entered parliament, and with the upcoming oath-taking, the constitution has been reinforced for effective implementation. Safeguarding and advancing the constitution will remain a core responsibility of the House of Representatives and the Federal Parliament.

Throughout his electoral journey, Balen visited various religious and cultural heritage sites across Nepal to pay respect. As he is poised to become the first prime minister from the Madhesi community, delivering a heartfelt Maithili speech in Janakpur, he is expected to act in line with the federal constitution’s spirit.

Having provided a voice to those once unheard through his music and words, this leader now ascends to the forefront of constitution and law enforcement. The efficacy of this implementation is keenly awaited by all.

Preparations for the appointment and oath-taking of the prime minister and ministers are scheduled for today, with hopes of placing capable and responsible individuals in office. Wishes are extended for a lean and effective cabinet that fulfills the aspirations revealed by the new Gen Z movement in the country.

Balen has maintained both formal and informal dialogue with the public. Known for his celebrity talent yet reserved nature in public life, as prime minister, he may adopt regular press briefings and parliamentary attendance to ensure accountability and communication with citizens.

His collaboration with Raswapa Chairman Ravi Lamichhane is currently relevant. While mayor of Kathmandu, Balen’s slogan was, “Until now parties ruled, now those who will change will govern.” Ravi had made Raswapa the ‘fourth power’ in parliament through his popularity, and Balen too is part of this coalition.

During candidate selection, Ravi projected Balen and other unused talents as senior leaders and future prime ministers. Now, sustaining collaboration between them poses a challenge, offering hope to citizens for political pragmatism and an end to old malpractices.

Past ego clashes and personality conflicts among top leaders have negatively impacted politics and the nation’s future. From the disagreements between KP Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal to those between Girija Prasad Koirala and Sher Bahadur Deuba, national politics has become polarized. It is hoped this time will be different. The new generation leaders, Ravi and Balen, are expected to succeed in managing egos.

Finally, it must be emphasized that the constitution belongs not to any leader but to the citizens, whose representation Balen enacts through his oath in the House of Representatives. The song “Jai Mahakali,” released by him, has sparked debate among critics but should be respected as artistic freedom. No party or government’s policy is defined by a song; pledges and manifestos hold that place. The federal constitution is the common foundation of modern Nepal, embraced by all.

Many congratulations to new Prime Minister Balen Shah and Raswapa on their five-year mandate. It is hoped this responsibility will make them more humble and accountable. May their aspiration for a government that serves rather than rules be fulfilled. As they enjoy significant public support, continuous feedback and vigilance from citizens will remain essential. This trustworthy news platform will continue to fulfill its role responsibly for Nepali readers.

March 27, Kathmandu – After being suspended by the National Sports Council (NSC), the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) held a press conference to announce that, following discussions with FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the scheduled early elections have been postponed.

The early elections planned for Thursday were put on hold. Speaking at the press conference after the election suspension, ANFA General Secretary Kiran Rai detailed that following the NSC’s suspension of ANFA, consultations were held with FIFA and AFC representatives, which resulted in the decision to postpone the elections.

“Representatives from AFC and FIFA had arrived for the elections, but after the NSC imposed the suspension, we discussed with them and decided to postpone the elections,” Rai stated.

He added that while ANFA is willing to step aside if it benefits Nepali football, stepping down at this moment would plunge the sport into crisis.

“It’s not that we don’t want to leave. We desire what’s best for Nepali football and have been working hard towards it for a long time. We aimed to hold the elections precisely to avoid FIFA’s suspension,” Rai explained.

Rai affirmed that ANFA is not opposing Nepalese law and has made efforts to clarify the situation. He also highlighted that the National Sports Council must take charge of football moving forward.

“Nepali football is currently in a vacuum, and that responsibility now lies with NSC,” he said, stressing that this void cannot be maintained and that NSC must take the lead in resolving issues within Nepali football.

Regarding the Asian Cup qualifying match against Laos, Rai emphasized that NSC must formally approve ANFA’s participation. “We sent a letter to NSC on March 22 seeking approval to participate in the qualifying match against Laos as part of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. This was before the suspension, and we strongly believe the Nepali team should participate in the game,” he stated.

Rai assured that ANFA is not chaotic. “We respect Nepal’s laws and have no issues that require conflict with the state,” he remarked.

He further accused certain groups of intentionally trying to prevent the A Division League from taking place.

March 26, Kathmandu – Following the appointment of the new Prime Minister, the government has begun preparations to reduce the number of ministries. The secretariat close to Balen Shah, who is set to take the oath as Prime Minister today, is planning to merge several ministries.

According to the organizational structure rules issued on July 26, 2018, there are currently 21 ministries in Nepal. Including the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers’ Office, the number rises to 22.

However, the new government plans to limit the number of ministries to between 15 and 18. The political manifesto of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (Rasuwa) states that the number of ministries should not exceed 18. Therefore, at least five existing ministries will have to be merged with others.

Sources close to Balen Shah’s secretariat say that preparations are underway with an aim to keep the number of ministries as low as possible.

In this process, the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers’ Office has provided some previous reports and documents to Balen’s team for their convenience. Based on these, a small team including Balen and some leaders from Rasuwa are working on restructuring the ministries.

According to sources, discussions are ongoing regarding the merger of the Ministry of Water Supply, Ministry of Youth and Sports, and Ministry of Urban Development into other ministries.

Discussion to Eliminate the Ministry of General Administration

There are also talks about abolishing the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration. The plan under consideration is to place the General Administration, which manages personnel administration, under the Prime Minister’s Office while bringing federal affairs under the Ministry of Law.

Several earlier studies have suggested that personnel management handled by the Ministry of General Administration could be transferred to a department within the Prime Minister’s Office.

There is also preparatory work underway to merge ministries related to infrastructure: potentially combining the Ministry of Urban Development and Water Supply with the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport. Likewise, discussions continue about merging the Ministry of Youth and Sports with the Ministry of Women, Children, and Senior Citizens to form a single ministry.

When the government led by Sushila Karki was formed, preparations to reduce ministries had already begun. However, as that government was focused on conducting elections, the plan to cut ministries was postponed.

Now, the upcoming Balen government will need to officially decide on the reduction of ministries during a cabinet meeting. Only after the cabinet approves amendments to the government’s organizational structure rules will the exact number and responsibilities of ministries be finalized.

March 26, Kathmandu — The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has begun finalizing the names of ministers to be part of the government led by Prime Minister Balen Shah.

Sources have confirmed that Dr. Swarnim Wagle will be appointed as Finance Minister, while Shishir Khanal is confirmed for the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Similarly, Sobita Gautam’s name has been confirmed for the position of Minister of Law.

A senior RSP leader stated, “The ministries for Swarnim, Shishir, and Sobita have been finalized. Most other appointments are nearly settled as well.”

Other probable ministerial candidates include Sudan Gurung, Birajbhakta Shrestha, Sasmita Pokharel, Ganesh Paudel, Bikram Khanal, Nisha Dangi, Geeta Chaudhary, and Sita Badi, though no official confirmation has been made yet.

Sources revealed that the decisions regarding ministerial appointments have been communicated via phone calls and SMS by Chairman Ravi Lamichhane, Balen Shah, and members of his secretariat.

This afternoon at 12:30 PM, Balen Shah is scheduled to be sworn in as Prime Minister, followed by the oath-taking ceremonies for the ministers.

Additionally, DP Aryal has been selected for the Speaker of the House position.