Why Did Balen And Rabi Leave Parliament After Just 20 Minutes?

Prime Minister Balen Shah and ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party Chairman Rabi Lamichhane arrived together at the House of Representatives meeting in Kathmandu on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, entered the chamber at approximately 1:37 pm, and left about 20 minutes later. Their brief attendance drew attention because the Prime Minister’s participation had not been publicly confirmed beforehand, while no official explanation was immediately provided for why the two leaders departed early.

Prime Minister Meets Speaker First

Before entering the parliamentary chamber, Prime Minister Shah reportedly met Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal for around five minutes. Details of the conversation were not immediately made public, making it unclear whether they discussed the day’s parliamentary business, the Prime Minister’s participation or another political matter.

The meeting was notable because Speaker Aryal has previously indicated that the Prime Minister was preparing to address Parliament. However, no address by Shah was reported during Tuesday’s brief appearance.

Leaders Enter Parliament Together

Shah and Lamichhane reached the meeting together and sat inside the chamber for only a short period. Their joint arrival reflected the close political partnership between the Prime Minister and the Rastriya Swatantra Party chairman.

Lamichhane leads the ruling party, while Shah became prime minister following the RSP’s strong victory in the March 2026 House of Representatives election. The party secured a commanding parliamentary position, placing both leaders at the centre of the new government’s political direction.

Reason For Early Exit Remains Unclear

Neither the Prime Minister’s Office nor the RSP immediately issued a detailed statement explaining why Shah and Lamichhane stayed for only around 20 minutes. Their departure may have been linked to other official commitments, but no confirmed reason had been made public at the time of reporting.

Because of the lack of an official explanation, claims about disagreement, protest, or dissatisfaction inside the meeting would be speculative. The confirmed information is limited to their arrival, brief presence, and subsequent departure.

Background To The Rabi–Balen Partnership

The political cooperation between Balen Shah and Rabi Lamichhane developed before the 2026 election. Under their agreement, Lamichhane continued as chairman of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, while Shah was positioned as the party’s parliamentary leader and prime-ministerial candidate.

Their partnership helped bring together Lamichhane’s nationwide party organisation and Shah’s support among younger and reform-minded voters. The RSP later emerged as the dominant force in the House of Representatives, allowing Shah to form the government.

Prime Minister’s Parliamentary Presence Under Focus

Shah’s attendance in Parliament has previously attracted political discussion. In May, Lamichhane responded to questions about the Prime Minister’s participation by saying Shah would attend parliamentary meetings, rejecting suggestions that he intended to remain absent from the House.

Tuesday’s appearance therefore carried political significance, even though it lasted only about 20 minutes. It showed the Prime Minister entering the House alongside the ruling-party chairman, but it also left unanswered questions about the purpose and timing of their brief visit.