KATHMANDU: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Parliamentary Leader Balendra Shah (Balen) has taken the oath of office and secrecy as the prime minister.

President Ram Chandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to Shah in the program organized at the President’s Office, Shital Niwas.

During the prime minister’s swearing-in ceremony, there was the sounding of seven conch shells, Vedic chanting by 108 Batuks, and the recitation of Asthamangal by 16 Buddhist monks.

The swearing-in ceremony was scheduled for 12:34 PM.

Balen will assume office at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar at 2:15 PM.

On Friday, President Ram Chandra Paudel had appointed Balen, a member of the House of Representatives, to the post of prime minister of Nepal in accordance with Clause (1) of Article 76 of the Constitution of Nepal.