Nepal's Prime Minister Balen Shah has become a central figure of intense political debate due to his unconventional and often controversial governance style. Since taking the reins of the country, Shah, who transitioned from a rapper to a politician and then directly to the Prime Minister's office, has been accused of operating according to his own rules, often bypassing established democratic traditions and constitutional protocols. These actions have sparked significant concern among opposition leaders and constitutional experts who believe that his approach is fundamentally altering the political landscape of Nepal.
Distance from the Presidency and Protocol Breaches
In the framework of Nepal's parliamentary democracy, a continuous and formal dialogue between the Prime Minister and the President is considered a vital constitutional tradition. However, reports suggest that Prime Minister Balen Shah has largely ignored this practice. Since assuming office 4 months ago, he has maintained a noticeable distance from Sheetal Niwas, the official residence of President Ram Chandra Poudel. Currently, the two leaders reportedly only meet during official ceremonies, with no direct private consultations taking place between them. Instead of visiting the President to brief him on major cabinet decisions, Shah has been sending Chief Secretary level officials to deliver messages. Officials at Sheetal Niwas view this behavior as a clear violation of democratic norms, while a senior official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated that since taking his oath, the Prime Minister has not visited Sheetal Niwas even once to discuss governance, policy, or critical national matters. This breakdown in regular communication is being interpreted as a move against Nepal's democratic heritage.
Changes in Foreign Policy and Diplomatic Protocols
Prime Minister Balen Shah has also introduced significant changes to Nepal's decades-old foreign policy and diplomatic protocols. Traditionally, it has been a practice for the Prime Minister to meet foreign ambassadors individually upon taking office. However, Shah has rejected this tradition, adopting a new policy of holding collective meetings with ambassadors from all countries. This shift has not gone unnoticed by the opposition. During an all-party meeting held on Wednesday, Gagan Kumar Thapa, the leader of the Nepali Congress, expressed strong objections to the Prime Minister's absence from critical discussions and his departure from established diplomatic norms.
Allegations of Judicial Interference
Perhaps the most serious allegations against the Balen Shah administration involve interference in the independent judiciary. Global human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have accused the government of putting undue pressure on the court system. Specifically, there are allegations that the government is pressuring 3 Supreme Court judges—Sapna Pradhan Malla, Kumar Regmi, and Hari Phuyal—to resign. On top of that, the appointment process for the Chief Justice of the Nepali Supreme Court has come under scrutiny. Prime Minister Balen Shah has been accused of breaking a 70 year old tradition regarding this appointment. Historically, the most senior judge was appointed as the Chief Justice. Following the retirement of Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut, Sapna Pradhan Malla was serving as the Acting Chief Justice and had a strong claim to the permanent position. However, the Constitutional Council didn't recommend her name, leading to a major controversy. In response, Prime Minister Shah stated that merit should be the primary criteria for appointments rather than just tradition. Human rights organizations have also raised objections to the changes made within the Constitutional Council.
Popularity Among Youth and Decisive Actions
Despite the criticisms from political circles and human rights groups, Prime Minister Balen Shah remains highly popular among the youth of Nepal due to his firm and decisive actions. Immediately after taking office, he made a significant impact on the political scene by ordering the arrest of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli as part of a crackdown on corruption. He has also taken steps to eliminate VIP culture in government offices, including the removal of photographs of political leaders from official premises. On top of that, he issued orders to completely ban student politics in educational institutions, while shah has also shifted the mode of communication, preferring social media over traditional media to interact with the public. While his supporters see these moves as necessary reforms to clean up the system, his critics view them as signs of an increasingly autocratic governance style that ignores the checks and balances of a democracy.