Prime Minister Balen Shah Retains Control of Three Ministries, Security Briefings Irregular

Kathmandu. Prime Minister Balen Shah has kept the responsibility of three departmental ministries with himself. Generally, the Prime Minister does not handle departmental ministries, and if he has to, he usually handles the Ministry of Defense.

Prime Minister Balen has been mobilizing some of his close aides by entrusting them with the work of those ministries.

On the night of March 27, 2025, IGP Dan Bahadur Karki and then IGP of Armed Police Raju Aryal went to Baluwatar to meet him after he assumed office as Prime Minister. The IGPs insisted on obtaining a warrant from the court before arresting former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak and assessing potential security challenges to prepare a security plan. Prime Minister Shah did not pay much attention to their issues and said, 'If, but nothing happens, arrest them today.'

Within a few minutes, both of them left Baluwatar. At that time, the then Home Minister Sudhan Gurung was at the IGP residence in Naxal. Despite the security apparatus's insistence that the cabinet decision to arrest Oli and Lekhak must come in writing through the Home Ministry and complete the process, they were arrested the next morning.

After that, there have been no regular meetings and briefings between Prime Minister Shah and the security chiefs, according to knowledgeable sources. On April 21, Prime Minister Shah called the security chiefs to Baluwatar. Shah called IGP Dan Bahadur Karki and then IGP of Armed Police Raju Aryal and instructed them to clear the squatter settlements. Then, in coordination with the Chief District Officer, security personnel were deployed in the squatter settlements. Squatters living on the banks of rivers in the Kathmandu Valley have now been removed from there.

Balen has completed two months in office as Prime Minister. Shah, who also holds the portfolios of Home and Defense ministries, has not yet visited those ministries.

Previously, security chiefs used to brief former prime ministers every week or every 15 days. A former security chief told Ratopati, 'There was no routine for briefing, but it was not delayed for more than 15 days.'

Since the National Investigation Department is under the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, the Chief Investigation Director of the department used to call for briefings with the Prime Minister in coordination with the police and armed police leadership. The head of the department used to brief every week.

Similarly, the Chief of Army Staff used to brief the Prime Minister once every 15 days. As it is the largest security force, decisions regarding promotions, transfers, and career development of the army personnel have to be made continuously. However, this practice has been 'broken' now, a high-ranking official from the Prime Minister's Office told Ratopati. That official said, 'The Prime Minister calls as needed.'

In the last two months, Prime Minister Shah attended one army program.

Balen has completed two months in office as Prime Minister. Shah, who also holds the portfolios of Home and Defense ministries, has not yet visited those ministries. It is an old practice for a newly appointed Prime Minister to visit the Army Headquarters and receive a briefing. According to army sources, the army has invited Prime Minister Shah for an inspection of the Army Headquarters, but he has not gone.

At the Army Headquarters, the army usually briefs the Prime Minister on its work in nature conservation, development construction, disaster management, and UN missions.

Prime Minister Shah attended an army program in the last two months. On April 8, he participated in the Officer Cadet Convocation Ceremony held in Kharipati. After that, he has not appeared in public programs.

• Personal Secretary Meets Security Chiefs

Prime Minister Shah is currently discussing budget preparation. His personal secretaries coordinate with security chiefs on security-related work and policy matters.

According to sources from the Prime Minister's Office, his Chief Personal Secretary Subash Sharma meets and discusses with Home Ministry Secretary Rajkumar Shrestha, IGP Dan Bahadur Karki, and Armed Police IGP Narayan Dutt Poudel. Another personal secretary, Navin Bhandari, also coordinates with the security chiefs who lead the country's peace and security.

Only military officers deployed for the Prime Minister's security are allowed to enter the inner perimeter of the Prime Minister's residence, he said.

The Home Administration makes its decisions in agreement with Sharma, who is of the rank of a Joint Secretary, and Bhandari, who is of the rank of Gazetted First Class. Assistant Secretary Pradip Pariyar also meets with the security chiefs.

After Sudhan Gurung resigned, Infrastructure Development Minister Sunil Lamshal also coordinated with the security chiefs. He coordinated particularly during the removal of squatter settlements.

DSP Dipesh Basnyat, deployed for the Prime Minister's security, has also been given limited access to Baluwatar and the Prime Minister's office in Singha Durbar. According to an official working there, a border line has been set up even at the Prime Minister's official residence.

Only military officers deployed for the Prime Minister's security are allowed to enter the inner perimeter of the Prime Minister's residence, he said.