Following the escalation of communal violence in Sunsari, widespread calls mounted for Prime Minister Balendra Shah to issue a public appeal for peace and harmony.
While the Prime Minister’s Office initially released a standard statement, PM Shah later took to Facebook that evening to deliver the message himself—a medium he has long favored. The following day, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Rabi Lamichhane convened an all-party meeting to address the deteriorating situation. PM Shah’s absence from the table drew sharp criticism from opposition leaders.
This was far from an isolated incident. Facebook has consistently served as Shah’s primary platform for announcing major executive decisions—a page he has notably monetized. It is a communication tactic he perfected during his tenure as the Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
A clear example occurred when the government faced fierce backlash over a proposed three percent tax on the health and education sectors. Despite Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle’s insistence on retaining the levy, PM Shah bypassed standard institutional channels to announce its withdrawal via a Facebook post—a decision the cabinet was left to endorse after the fact.
These episodes illustrate a defining pattern of Shah’s political career: a heavy reliance on social media to roll out major policy shifts and address national crises, paired with minimal engagement in formal political institutions. His presence in Parliament remains infrequent, his participation in party affairs is largely limited to major events like the general convention in Chitwan, and his dialogue with leaders across the political aisle is virtually non-existent.
Although he has recently attempted to adjust his working style—such as holding outreach meetings with representatives of the business community—he remains conspicuously absent from state functions, police ceremonies, and traditional administrative programs. Similarly, the PM rarely attends the Parliament and opposition parties are demanding his presence in the House.
Similarly, he has not met President Ram Chandra Poudel though there is a customary practice of PM briefing the head of the state on the weekly basis. Shah has also avoided foreign visits and he has decided not to attend the UN General Assembly that takes place in September.
Ultimately, Shah’s style of governance reinforces the perception of a "digital prime minister"—a leader who prefers communicating with the public through a screen rather than doing the deliberate work of conventional, institutional politics.
