Prime Minister Balendra Shah is drawing sharp criticism following revelations that his secretariat has expanded into a large, high-cost operation, contradicting his pledge to deliver lean governance.
Appointed Prime Minister on March 27, Shah initially formed a five-member kitchen cabinet. However, official records reveal that his secretariat has since swelled to 27 personnel. Among them, two top advisers enjoy minister-level salaries and benefits, while two others receive state minister-level perks.
Key appointments include Chief Adviser Kumar Byanjankar and Political Adviser Asim Shah, both enjoying minister-level benefits. Sudip Dhakal (Policy, Administration, and Governance) and Bibek Mishra (Information and Communication Technology) have been accorded state minister-level remuneration and perks.
This came to the fore after Nepali Congress lawmaker Sita Thapa filed an official request on July 9 seeking detailed transparency on secretariat appointments and remuneration. In a formal response issued on July 24, Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers Secretary Pushkar Sapkota confirmed the details, while noting that existing rules permit the Prime Minister's office to appoint up to 48 staff members.
Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP)—led by Shah in Parliament—swept into power after securing 182 seats in the March 5 elections, leveraging a strong public sentiment following the Gen-Z protests on September 8 that collapsed the Congress-UML coalition. Despite campaigning on a platform of fiscal discipline and administrative reform, the Prime Minister now faces growing public scrutiny over the size and perks of his kitchen cabinet.
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