KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Balendra Shah (Balen) has officially formed his core secretariat team following his appointment and subsequent swearing-in ceremony on Friday. Immediately after taking the oath of office and secrecy, Shah moved to appoint a circle of trusted long-term loyalists and strategists to key advisory and administrative positions within the Prime Minister’s Office.

In a move that underscores a preference for proven loyalty, Shah has appointed Kumar Ben (Benjankar) as his Chief Advisor. Ben, who is widely regarded as the Prime Minister’s primary strategic architect, has been a constant figure in Shah’s political journey since his initial campaign for the Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayoralty. Sources close to the Prime Minister describe Ben as a master strategist whose analytical skills and foresight have earned him a position as one of Shah’s most trusted confidants.

Asim Shah has been appointed as the Political Advisor to the Prime Minister. Asim is credited with playing a pivotal role in the unification of the Balen group and the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) following the release of Rabi Lamichhane from custody. It was at Asim’s residence that the critical midnight discussions took place, resulting in a 7-point agreement that served as the launchpad for Balen’s prime ministerial candidacy. Asim, a former proportional representation MP from the RSP, had previously stepped aside from contesting the Kathmandu-5 constituency to facilitate the party’s broader strategic interests.

The administrative wing of the secretariat will be led by Subas Sharma, who has been named Chief Personal Secretary, while Sudip Dhakal has been entrusted with the responsibilities of Chief of Administration. To manage the government’s digital and media outreach, Bibek Misra has been appointed as the Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) Coordinator.

According to members of the Prime Minister’s team, the remaining advisory positions are expected to be filled within the next few days.

Meanwhile, several core members of Shah’s former mayoral secretariat, including Arjun Ghimire, Bhupdev Shah, and Surendra Bajgain, remain actively involved in the transition. Formal decisions regarding their specific designations within the new team are expected to be finalized by Sunday.