PM Modi Congratulates Nepal’s New Government, Reaffirms Support for Cooperation
India pledges to work closely with Nepal for peace, progress, and prosperity
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated Nepal on the formation of its newly elected government, as the Himalayan nation looks to rebuild following large protests led by Gen Z activists.
Reaffirming India’s commitment to maintaining peace and cooperation with its neighbor, Modi said India will continue to work closely with Nepal. In a post on X (Twitter), the Prime Minister wrote that he sincerely congratulated the people and government of Nepal for the successful and peaceful conduct of the elections.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the people and government of Nepal on the successful and peaceful conduct of the elections. It is inspiring to see my Nepali sisters and brothers exercise their democratic rights with such enthusiasm. This historic milestone marks a proud moment in Nepal’s democratic journey,” Modi said.
He added that as a close friend and neighbor, India remains committed to working with the people of Nepal and its new government to achieve greater heights of shared peace, development, and prosperity.
Meanwhile, former rapper and Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah won the parliamentary election from the Jhapa-5 constituency, defeating his strong rival and former Nepalese Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli, according to the Election Commission of Nepal.
With this victory, Balen Shah has secured a seat in the lower house of parliament and is set to become the next Prime Minister. The Election Commission reported that Shah received 68,348 votes, while Oli trailed with 18,734 votes.
Following the result, senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is now preparing to take charge as Prime Minister after the party registered a major victory in the elections and moved close to a comfortable majority.
According to official results, the RSP—formed just four years ago—won 59 seats in the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) category and is leading in 62 other seats, putting it on track to secure a majority in the House of Representatives of Nepal.
Party leaders have repeatedly assured the public that there is no internal conflict over the prime ministerial post. First-ranking Vice Chairperson D. P. Aryal stated that the party received strong voter support due to its top leaders, including Rabi Lamichhane and Balen Shah, and confirmed that Shah would serve as the parliamentary leader and the next Prime Minister.
The combined tally of direct and proportional seats has crossed the majority mark of 138 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives, clearing the path for the formation of a new government.
