Nepali government in Kathmandu responded positively to Prime Minister Narednra Modi’s wishes for the new leadership, which achieved outstanding outcome in the recently concluded general election. Replying to Modi’s goodwill message, Nepal’s new Prime Minister Balendra Shah expressed his eagerness to work closely with New Delhi to move forward the multifaceted relations between the two neighbours. “Thank you, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for your kind words and warm wishes. I am eager to work closely with you to advance the multifaceted relations between our two countries for the common prosperity of our people,” said Balendra on 27 March 2026 through a statement issued by the PMO in Kathmandu.
The Kathmandu Post editorialized the emergence of Balendra saying that ‘the era of the old guard, defined by ego-tussles and a disconnect from the modern world, is hopefully over and the era of the youth has begun’. As the mayor of Kathmandu, Balendra’s focus was on clean, effective and hassle-free governance and the same energy is expected to spread to the national level. The modern political history of Nepal remains rife with examples of government failures due to intraparty feuds and coalition culture. Since the monarchy came under constitutional ambit in 1990, Nepal saw the formation of 33 governments, added the editorial, concluding that the challenges ahead of the government remains high, but the optimism currently has been sweeping the country.
Meanwhile, in an unprecedented development, Nepal’s former premier and communist leader KP Sharma Oli (along with former home minister Ramesh Lekhak) was arrested on 28 March morning for their suspected role in the crackdown on youth uprising in September 2025, where a number of students and other Nepali citizens were killed. The action was taken following a commission’s recommendation to prosecute both the leaders for alleged criminal negligence in handling the protests. The action witnessed counter reactions from various opposition parties as they demanded an unconditional release of both Oli and Lekhak unconditionally.
Nepal new PM reciprocates Modi’s gesture
