Dr. Bikram Timilsina Appointed as Minister for Communications and Information Technology in PM Balen Shah's Cabinet

Kathmandu. In the cabinet formed under the leadership of Prime Minister Balen Shah, Dr. Bikram Timilsina has been given the responsibility of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. Timilsina was elected to the House of Representatives from Nuwakot Constituency No. 1.

Dr. Timilsina, who defeated influential Nepali Congress leader and former Foreign Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat in his home district, will now lead the Communications Ministry. Dr. Timilsina, a candidate from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), was elected in the election held on Falgun 21, securing 22,609 votes. He defeated his closest competitor, Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, by a margin of 4,012 votes. Mahat had received 18,597 votes.

Dr. Timilsina, who became politically active only two years ago, defeated a leader established in politics for decades. Dr. Timilsina is one of the nine PhD holders among the parliamentarians. He earned his PhD in Politics, Geopolitics, and International Relations from Griffith University in Australia. His dissertation focused on the 'Role of External Forces in Nepal's Peace Process'.

He holds a Master's degree in International Studies from the University of Queensland and another Master's degree in English from Tribhuvan University. Before entering politics, he taught Diplomacy and International Law at Tribhuvan University.

The newly appointed Communications Minister, Dr. Timilsina, has about 15 years of experience in the communication sector. He worked for nine years as a program producer and presenter at Radio Sagarmatha a decade ago. While in Australia, he served as the Executive Editor of 'Nepal Express' broadcast from Brisbane and as an editorial advisor for 'South Asia Dotcom' in Sydney.

Dr. Timilsina, who is active in policy discussions after establishing the 'Asian Institute for Advanced Research' in 2023, is also a member of the RSP's International Relations Department. Given his expertise in both diplomacy and communication, he is expected to bring policy reforms to the Ministry of Communications.