Kathmandu, March 28 -- Three weeks after registering victory against former Prime Minister and CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli in the March 5 elections, Rastriya Swatantra Party senior leader Balendra Shah became the country's executive head on Friday.

President Ramchandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to the 35-year-old prime minister amid a special function held at Sheetal Niwas.

The swearing-in ceremony included the performance of shankhanaad (blowing of conch shells). In addition, swastishanti recitation was performed by 108 Batuks, while Buddhist monks conducted ashtamangal chanting.

This marks the first time a leader from the Madheshi community has become prime minister.

A rapper and structural engineer, Shah sh...