Kathmandu, March 28 (NationPress) Newly appointed Prime Minister of Nepal, Balendra Shah, expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday for the congratulatory message he received, emphasizing his ambition to enhance the diverse relationships shared by the two countries.

On Friday, PM Modi congratulated Shah on his ascension to the role of Nepal's Prime Minister and conveyed his willingness to collaborate with him in elevating the friendship between the two nations for the betterment of their citizens.

In a response, the office of the Nepal Prime Minister stated, "Thank you, PM Narendra Modi, for your kind words and warm wishes. I am enthusiastic about collaborating closely with you to foster the multidimensional relations between our two nations for the mutual prosperity of our citizens."

PM Modi's message of congratulations followed Shah's swearing-in ceremony, where he assumed office as Nepal's new Prime Minister.

According to a statement from the President's Office, Nepal President Ram Chandra Paudel appointed the former Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Shah—popularly known as Balen—as Prime Minister in accordance with Article 76(1) of the Constitution.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which achieved a significant victory in the recent parliamentary elections with nearly a two-thirds majority, had elected Shah as its parliamentary party leader the day before, thereby paving the way for his position as the 47th Prime Minister of the country.

At just 35 years old, Shah stands as one of the youngest individuals to ever assume the role of Prime Minister in Nepal. The recent elections showcased a shift towards younger lawmakers, indicating a generational transformation in Nepal's political landscape.

Shah, who enjoys considerable popularity among the youth, made his entry into national politics on December 28 of last year, which is believed to have played a vital role in boosting the RSP's voter base.

The relatively young party ran its electoral campaign with Shah as its prime ministerial candidate and celebrated a decisive triumph in the parliamentary elections held on March 5, capturing 182 out of 275 seats in the House of Representatives.

Shah notably defeated former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli by an impressive margin of 49,614 votes, obtaining 68,348 votes compared to Oli's 18,734 in Jhapa-5, situated in eastern Nepal. This achievement marks the highest vote count for any candidate in Nepal's parliamentary elections since 1991.

Shah's political journey began in 2022 when he successfully ran for the mayorship of Kathmandu as an independent candidate.

Born on April 27, 1990, in Kathmandu to a Madhesi family that cherished education and culture, Shah completed his bachelor's degree in Kathmandu before pursuing a master's degree in Structural Engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University in India.

His educational background in engineering has bestowed him with a practical understanding of infrastructure, urban development, and public works, which significantly influenced his governance approach during his tenure as the mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City.