Dr Vijay Darda, Nagpur, 3 April 2026
Sujata Shah Sejekan, sister of Nepal’s new Prime Minister Balen Shah, lives in Bengaluru, India. In an interview with an international news agency immediately after Balen’s landslide victory, she remarked that the bonds between India and Nepal are centuries old and no one can embitter them. This is the moment to write a new chapter in India-Nepal relations. If India can fulfil Balen’s expectations through respectful cooperation, warmth can be restored in the relationship. The initiative, however, must come from India.
She suggested that recent frictions were merely a temporary phase and expressed optimism for the future. Furthermore, she voiced her conviction that bilateral relations would only truly improve once Balen Shah became Prime Minister.
Sujata’s wish has been granted. At just 35, rapper-singer Balen Shah has assumed the office of Prime Minister. Can we now hope that Balen will attempt to heal the deep wounds inflicted by the turbulent storms in India-Nepal relations over the last decade and a half? Will he succeed in such an attempt? Does he sincerely wish for the relations to be the same as they were before the rise of the Communist Party? What kind of relationship will he maintain with China?
Strategically and diplomatically, Nepal remains a vital nation for global superpowers. As a result, many such questions are being raised, in Nepal as well as in other neighbouring countries. However, the people of Nepal have placed immense trust in him.
Since 2008, the country has seen many coalition governments, but now the people have brought Balen’s Rastriya Swatantra Party to power with a significant majority. In short, Balen holds the mandate. He possesses the power to reshape Nepal’s destiny. Immediately after assuming the office of Prime Minister, Balen Shah demonstrated his resolve during his very first cabinet meeting. The Gen Z movement that propelled him to power saw many young lives lost to government gunfire. A commission, headed by Gauri Bahadur Karki, was established to investigate these incidents, and it subsequently submitted its report to the interim government led by Sushila Karki. Balen has now ordered immediate action based on the commission’s recommendations. Following this directive, former Prime Minister and Nepal Communist Party leader KP Sharma Oli, along with former home minister Ramesh Lekhak, were arrested. Oli is a leader known for aligning closely with China, both during and after his tenure; it is often said that the strikingly beautiful Chinese ambassador Hou Yanqi held significant influence over Oli.
Ramesh Lekhak was also seen as a promoter of the Chinese agenda. The arrest of Oli and Lekhak serve as a stern message to Beijing: China should not attempt to turn Nepal into a colony under the guise of leftist solidarity. While China has yet to offer an official reaction, it is undoubtedly monitoring these developments closely. Notably, Balen has sidelined Chinese interests earlier too. During KP Sharma Oli’s premiership, the foundation stone was laid for the Nepal-China Friendship Industrial Park in the Jhapa parliamentary constituency. However, Balen pointedly removed this project, a key component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), from his election manifesto. These signals suggest that Balen has no intention of operating under China’s shadow.
Does this, then, signal a positive turn for India? To a large extent, yes, but India must not assume that distancing itself from China means it will simply embrace India. Two examples of his past conduct warrant attention. As mayor of Kathmandu, he had banned the film Adipurush because it depicted Sita as the daughter of India, whereas her birthplace, Janakpur, lies in Nepal. Furthermore, when KP Sharma Oli released a controversial map claiming parts of the Indian state of Uttarakhand as Nepalese territory, Balen not only supported the move but prominently displayed the map in the mayor’s office. We must accept that Balen Shah will prioritise actions that fortify his brand of Nepalese nationalism. He will avoid any move that alienates Nepal’s youth, while keeping a sharp eye on Nepal’s strategic interests.
Nepal is landlocked, sharing a 1,250-kilometre border with India and a 1,414-kilometre border with China. However, the Chinese border consists of high mountains and icy peaks; trade with India is inherently more feasible than with China. Beyond logistics, there is the matter of cultural affinity. Although Balen rarely addresses it explicitly, he is a Madhesi, a group of Indian origin. In contrast, Nepal shares no such deep-rooted social or cultural ties with China. I believe Balen will certainly look towards India with hope. If the Indian government can meet this expectation through respectful cooperation, it will not only heal old wounds but also usher in a fresh breeze of warmth in bilateral ties. This is a new opportunity for both the nations to rebuild their relationship. Let us hope all goes well!
