Newly Elected Lawmakers Take Oath at Federal Parliament Building Amidst High Security and Media Presence

Kathmandu. There was a large presence of newly elected members of parliament, security personnel, media persons, and aides to the lawmakers at the Federal Parliament Building premises in Singha Durbar today. Many lawmakers, who arrived at the Parliament building for the oath-taking ceremony after being elected to the House of Representatives, were seen getting acquainted with each other. Some were giving reactions to the media, while others were receiving congratulations on their election.

The Federal Parliament Secretariat had organized the oath-taking ceremony for 2:00 PM. Lawmakers arrived at the Parliament building adorned in their respective traditional attire to participate in the ceremony. As the time for the oath ceremony neared, the attention of security personnel, media persons, and other aides present in the building premises was focused on the southern entrance of the building.

Around 1:55 PM, the private vehicle with license plate Ba. Pra 01 033 Ch 7881, carrying Balendra Shah (Balen), a senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), entered through the southern entrance and stopped in front of the main entrance of the Parliament building. As he got out of the vehicle and proceeded towards the main entrance of the Parliament building, he was surrounded by the media.

Security personnel struggled to clear a path for leader Shah through the media scrum and escort him towards the door leading to the multipurpose hall of the building. As he proceeded towards the oath-taking hall with the help of security personnel, attendees greeted him by chanting 'Balen Sarkar' (Balen Government), and leader Shah entered with a smile.

Leader Shah entered the oath ceremony venue wearing a black coat adorned with a 'Silam Sakma,' a symbol of Kirati culture. In the Kirati language, 'Si' means death and 'Lam' means path. It is believed that wearing the Silam Sakma blocks the path of death. It also signifies an auspicious sign and is particularly regarded as a protective shield. He was seated in the first row of the meeting hall during the ceremony. To his right sat party chairman Rabi Lamichhane, and to his left were Deputy Chairmen DP Aryal and Dr. Swarnim Waglé, as he was proposed as the Prime Ministerial candidate from the RSP.

Padma Prasad Pandey, the Secretary-General of the Federal Parliament, welcomed the newly elected lawmakers participating in the oath ceremony. Arjun Narsingh KC, the senior-most member presiding over the meeting, administered the oath of office and secrecy to the attending lawmakers. Immediately after the oath ceremony concluded, senior leader Shah drove his own vehicle out of the Parliament building.

Shah, elected from Jhapa Constituency No. 5, has been proposed as the Prime Minister by the Rastriya Swatantra Party. The RSP is preparing to select leader Shah as its parliamentary party leader. For this purpose, a meeting has been called for this afternoon. In the House of Representatives election held on Falgun 21, 2079 BS, the RSP became the largest party in the parliament with 182 seats.

Shah, who was elected as the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City as an independent candidate in the local level elections of 2079 BS, remains popular among the younger generation. Shah, a 'Structural Engineer' by profession, is also known as a famous 'Rapper'.