It has been exactly two months since Nepal Prime Minister Balen Shah took office amidst historic public expectations, but his administration is already navigating a turbulent political landscape. After being sworn into office on March 27 following a landslide victory, the former engineer and rapper introduced an ambitious 100-point reform agenda. However, latest tracking data reveals a stark reality: 88 of those promises are currently reported to be overdue or lagging severely behind schedule.

The government has also faced immediate political setbacks after two key ministers resigned within 30 days of its formation, triggering questions from the nation's highly active Gen-Z voters.

Promises Fall Behind Schedule

According to the official tracking website maintained by the Prime Minister’s Office, the vast majority of the 100-point agenda remains unfulfilled. Initial reports indicate that bureaucratic delays and structural hurdles have slowed down the promised rapid implementation.

The stalled roadmap has fueled growing dissatisfaction among Gen-Z youth, who were the driving force behind the political shift that propelled Shah’s Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) to power. Many young citizens are openly taking to social media, asking whether the promised “new politics” is genuinely distinct from the old guard, or if capable leadership remains missing in government.

Two Ministerial Exits in a Month

Adding to the administration's early anxieties, the Cabinet saw high-profile departures within its first month. Labour Minister Deepak Shah stepped down following allegations that he improperly secured a job for his wife.

Shortly after, Home Minister Sudan Gurung tendered his resignation following claims of links to a businessman currently under investigation. While local authorities confirmed that the resignations were meant to establish a high standard of accountability, the double exit has left the young administration looking vulnerable.

Internal Party Friction Grows

The friction is not limited to the opposition. Several legislative decisions taken by Prime Minister Balen Shah’s government have faced protests, and critical questions are now emerging from within his own party.

RSP leaders Aashika Tamang and Amresh Kumar Singh publicly voiced concerns after the Prime Minister chose not to respond directly to opposition queries during an intense parliamentary session. Singh remarked that Nepal’s parliamentary democracy was beginning to resemble a less accountable model where executive decisions bypass legislative scrutiny.

      Balen Shah Government Tracker (First 60 Days)

┌─────────────────────────────────────┬──────────────────────┐

│ Reform Metric                       │ Status               │

├─────────────────────────────────────┼──────────────────────┤

│ Total Promised Reforms              │ 100 Points           │

│ Overdue / Delayed Reforms           │ 88 Points            │

│ Ministerial Resignations (30 days)  │ 2 Ministers          │

│ Major Fulfild Promises              │ Free Hospital Beds   │

└─────────────────────────────────────┴──────────────────────┘

Controversial Legal Decisions

The administration has faced severe backlash over its legal and procedural choices. The government’s move to implement the old Gauri Bahadur Karki Commission report—which looked into corruption and systemic misuse of power—was initially welcomed by youth groups but soon hit legal hurdles. Critics pointed out that the enforcement lacked a clear legislative basis.

Simultaneously, the high-profile arrests of former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak sparked massive political debate. Legal experts claimed that proper procedures and required paperwork were bypassed, turning the anti-corruption drive into a political flashpoint. Meanwhile, Nepali Congress leader Deepak Khadka was recently released from custody after authorities cited insufficient evidence.

Governance Through Ordinances

Despite holding a comfortable majority in the lower house, the RSP lacks representation in the National Assembly (the upper house). To bypass this roadblock, the government introduced eight separate ordinances, including highly controversial proposals to ban civil service trade unions and student organisations.

"Student and employee groups in education and government offices have become sleeper cells of political parties. Transfers and promotions should depend strictly on merit, not political links," Prime Minister Shah stated in a social media post, defending the policy.

However, following massive protests by employee unions and student bodies, Nepal’s Supreme Court intervened and stayed the ordinances, delivering a major judicial blow to the executive.

Border Resentment and Demolitions

On the economic and civic front, the government's strict policy choices have triggered public anger. Local authorities strictly enforced a customs duty rule requiring tax payments on goods worth over 100 Nepali rupees brought across the India-Nepal border. Residents in border towns, who rely heavily on Indian markets for daily essentials like medicines and groceries, staged protests, terming the move an "undeclared blockade."

Domestically, a relentless anti-encroachment drive has displaced thousands. Officials confirmed that nearly 4,000 structures were demolished in the Kathmandu Valley alone, affecting close to 15,000 people. While Shah pioneered this "bulldozer action" during his tenure as Kathmandu mayor, international human rights experts have criticized the current nationwide drive for failing to provide proper rehabilitation plans for the poor.

Fulfilling Core Pledges

Despite the widespread criticism, the government has managed to deliver on a few cornerstone promises. The administration successfully mandated that all government and private hospitals across Nepal allocate 10% of their beds entirely free for poor and destitute patients.

Furthermore, a large-scale judicial inquiry has been initiated into the assets of top political elites and former monarchs since 2006, keeping his core anti-corruption base intact.

Silence Over Accountability

However, a growing point of contention remains the Prime Minister’s recent choice of communication. During his campaign, Shah promised radical transparency, yet he has not held a single press conference or addressed the nation since taking the oath.

His sudden departure midway through the President’s policy speech and subsequent unannounced absences from Parliament have given the opposition fresh leverage. As the government completes its second month under deadline pressure, the public is watching closely to see if the young leader can bridge the gap between radical promises and complex statecraft.

The Nepal Elections 2026 have triggered a dramatic political shift in the Himalayan nation, with rapper-turned-politician Balen Shah and his Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) moving closer to securing a historic two-thirds majority in parliament.

As vote counting continues, early results suggest the RSP is dominating the electoral landscape, leaving traditional political parties far behind. The outcome could reshape Nepal’s political future and potentially pave the way for Shah to become the country’s next prime minister.

Historic Political Shift in Nepal

The Nepal Elections 2026 appear to be marking a rare moment in the country’s political history. Nepal’s complex two-tier electoral system usually prevents any single party from gaining overwhelming control of parliament.

However, preliminary figures indicate that the Rastriya Swatantra Party has already secured around 124–125 seats out of 165 under the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system.

In comparison, other major parties are far behind:

• Nepali Congress: 17 seats

• CPN-UML: 8 seats

• Nepali Communist Party: 7 seats

• Other parties combined: 5 seats

Political analysts say this outcome signals growing public frustration with traditional political leadership and a desire for new faces in governance.

Balen Shah Defeats Former PM KP Sharma Oli

One of the most significant moments of the Nepal Elections 2026 came when Balen Shah, 35, defeated former prime minister KP Sharma Oli in Jhapa-5, a constituency long considered Oli’s political stronghold.

The victory is being described by observers as symbolic of a generational shift in Nepal’s politics.

Shah first gained nationwide attention as the mayor of Kathmandu and later emerged as a prominent reform-focused political leader. His campaign focused on governance reforms, anti-corruption measures, and youth participation in politics.

With his party now dominating the vote count, Shah is widely expected to emerge as Nepal’s next prime minister if the final results confirm the trend.

Counting Still Underway

Despite the strong showing by RSP, the Nepal Elections 2026 counting process is still ongoing.

According to the Election Commission:

• Results for 164 of the 165 FPTP seats have been declared.

• Counting of votes under the Proportional Representation (PR) system is still in progress.

• Over 10.3 million PR votes have already been counted.

• Around 500,000 to 600,000 votes are yet to be tallied.

Election Commission information officer Suman Ghimire said the vote counting is likely to conclude by Tuesday evening, though the final official results may take up to four days to be formally announced.

International Reactions Begin

The developments in the Nepal Elections 2026 have already drawn attention from global leaders.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Balen Shah and RSP leaders after early results showed the party heading toward a major victory. Modi reportedly held a “warm telephone conversation” with Shah and RSP chairman Rabi Lamichhane to extend his congratulations.

Experts say the election outcome could influence regional diplomatic relations and economic cooperation in South Asia.

What Lies Ahead for Nepal

If the Rastriya Swatantra Party ultimately secures a two-thirds majority, it would give the government significant legislative power, enabling major constitutional or policy reforms.

For former PM KP Sharma Oli and his party CPN-UML, the defeat has triggered calls for internal reform. Party leaders have already hinted at possible reorganisation and leadership changes following what they described as a “serious setback.”

As the Nepal Elections 2026 counting nears completion, all eyes are now on whether Balen Shah’s party will officially cross the two-thirds threshold and usher in a new political era in Nepal.