KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor and senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Balen Shah, has said Nepal needs honest leadership and long-term vision, not short-term decisions or popular slogans.
Taking to social media, Mayor Shah explained the reason behind his entry into politics, stating that the country now requires sustainable planning and integrity-driven governance. “Nepal no longer needs short-term decisions. It needs a long-term vision. It does not need popular slogans anymore, but honest leadership,” he wrote.
Shah said his political engagement is guided by a clear purpose of making Nepal secure, sustainable and well-organized.
“Our core objective in politics is to make Nepal safe, sustainable and systematic. Policies should ensure preparedness before crises arrive, structures should be resilient to disasters, and governance should earn the trust of the people,” he said, adding that the campaign is not about an individual but a collective effort for a safer future.
Recalling his professional background, Shah mentioned his work as a civil engineer following the 2015 earthquake, during which he was involved in reconstructing around 2,500 houses in Kavre and worked across more than 35 districts. Marking Earthquake Safety Day, he expressed hope that Nepal would never again face such devastation.
He noted that Nepal’s development cannot be viewed solely through an engineering lens. “Nation-building means developing both geography and people. It requires strengthening all dimensions of society and building a strong bridge between the state and citizens,” Shah wrote.
Stressing the need for disaster-resilient development, Shah said a safe nation demands structural engineering, long-term planning, responsible policy and honest leadership. He recalled choosing to return to Nepal after studying structural engineering abroad, despite opportunities to work in developed countries.
As mayor, Shah said Kathmandu Metropolitan City has prioritized action over rhetoric, demonstrating that local governments can deliver tangible services, transparency and structural reforms. “The time has come to expand the reforms initiated in Kathmandu to the national level,” he said.
Shah stressed that development is not limited to roads and large structures but includes safe infrastructure, public trust and an environment where citizens believe they can build their future within the country. He concluded by calling for committed and honest efforts to ensure a safe and hopeful Nepal for future generations.
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