KATHMANDU: Growing dissatisfaction has surfaced within the Rastriya Swatantra Party over Prime Minister Balen Shah’s continued absence from party meetings and Parliament, even as opposition parties intensify pressure on the government.
Balen formally joined the RSP on December 28, 2025, after signing a seven-point agreement with party chair Rabi Lamichhane following nearly a year of discussions. He was later appointed senior leader of the party.
Despite holding one of the party’s highest positions and leading the government, Balen has rarely attended party meetings, public interactions, or parliamentary discussions. Since becoming Prime Minister on March 27, he has not spoken a single word in the House of Representatives.
Party insiders say he also remains absent from RSP secretariat and parliamentary party meetings, functioning largely independently of the party structure. According to sources, Balen has delegated communication with the party secretariat to General Secretary Bhupadev Shah.
Since joining the party, Balen has reportedly visited the RSP central office only twice. During election campaigning earlier this year, he rarely mentioned the party’s name publicly.
His absence from Parliament has further intensified criticism after opposition lawmakers repeatedly demanded his presence during recent House sessions. Critics also pointed to an incident in which the Prime Minister walked out of Parliament while President Ram Chandra Paudel was presenting the government’s policy and programme.
Constitutional expert Rajendra P said the Prime Minister must remain accountable to Parliament and respond to lawmakers and public concerns through the House.
“When the Prime Minister appears indifferent toward Parliament, the public also becomes frustrated,” he said.
Former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, who is currently abroad, also warned that failing to remain accountable to Parliament amounts to disrespect toward both lawmakers and citizens.
Political analyst Shyam Shrestha said dissatisfaction within the RSP appears to be growing, even if leaders have not openly spoken against Balen.
“The silence of party leaders itself reflects the unease,” he said.
Several senior RSP leaders contacted on the issue declined to comment publicly, saying they were unaware of the reasons behind Balen’s absence and suggesting that only party chair Lamichhane could answer such questions.
One senior leader admitted that even top party members have limited direct access to the Prime Minister.
“To be honest, outside public programmes, I have barely spoken to him directly,” the leader said.
RSP lawmaker Amaresh Kumar Singh defended Balen, arguing that previous prime ministers also preferred working quietly rather than speaking publicly.
“Why should he keep talking outside unnecessarily? He is working silently,” Singh said, adding that the Prime Minister may eventually appear in Parliament.
Meanwhile, some RSP lawmakers have begun indirectly expressing dissatisfaction in Parliament.
During Wednesday’s House meeting, RSP lawmaker Ramesh Prasai criticized the government over unresolved investigations into past crackdowns on protests and warned against repeating the political culture of previous governments.
Similarly, RSP MP Ranju Darshana raised concerns about the situation of landless squatters and called for urgent state intervention.
Within the party, leaders are reportedly reluctant to speak openly due to pressure from both Lamichhane and Balen. However, frustration has been quietly building as many feel excluded from decision-making and disconnected from the Prime Minister.
Political analyst Indra Adhikari said Balen’s leadership style has increasingly appeared disconnected from democratic norms.
“The Prime Minister is accountable to Parliament. Ignoring Parliament in this way is unacceptable,” he said.
Adhikari also argued that if Balen fails to change his working style and become more responsive to public and party concerns, the RSP could eventually consider changing the leadership of the government itself.
“If he does not reform his behavior and leadership approach, the party may be forced to think about alternatives,” he said.
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