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Society & Culture Around Town Book Excerpts Vigyapanti The Dating Story

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As 2 ministers exit, will Balen Shah have to sacrifice conviction for practical politics?

Balen Shah is defying Nepal's political logic. Can he sustain the momentum?

Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah’s cabinet has lost two ministers in the past few weeks due to allegations of corruption. Shah, who came to power with the promise of controlling corruption and providing good ⁠governance and transparency, has had to let go of Labour Minister, Dipak Kumar Sah, and Home Minister, Sudan Gurung.

Gurung, considered the leader of the September 2025 Gen Z movement, tendered his resignation to the Prime Minister. Now, a parliamentary committee is reportedly being formed to investigate the alleged matter.

Within a week of entering office, Gurung’s actions were as powerful as his popularity. Agencies under his portfolio arrested KP Sharma Oli, former Prime Minister, and Ramesh Lekhak, former Home Minister, for their alleged role in police action against and killings during the Gen Z movement. While this was most likely a political vendetta, the majority saw it as a first step toward justice and good governance promised by the RSP during the electoral campaign. Interestingly, Gurung is not the first political fatality, but the first major one.

The first one was Sah, who was axed from the post earlier this month due to alleged ‘misuse of his position’ in influencing the appointment of his relatives to a corporate board. With two early departures, Prime Minister Shah has indicated strict adherence to his ‘zero tolerance’ policy against irregularities and misdeeds, as well as to transparency in governance and finances.

But what do these actions indicate for a government that won a historic near two-thirds (minus two seats) mandate in the parliamentary elections held this February? And do they impact the political health of the RSP?

Also read: Balen Shah is changing Nepal’s foreign policy. He’s treating India, China as equals

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