Rift grows between mayors who won from independent candidacy and ward chairpersons who won from parties

KATHMANDU, July 8: A growing rift has been reported between mayors who won from independent candidacy and ward chairpersons who won the elections  on tickets from political parties. Independent mayors are heard clashing with representatives of political parties every day.

It has become public that Balendra shah, the mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan city; Harka Sampang, the mayor of Dharan Sub-Metropolitan city; and Gopal Hamal, the mayor of Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City are in a feud with ward chairpersons elected from the political parties.

Such debates have been increasing in the municipalities in recent days. And, the mayors have started asking the ward chairs - ‘Do you have a strategy of not allowing us to work because we won from an independent candidacy? The mayors have become increasingly angry after the deputy mayors and ward chairpersons started making things difficult for them even in the regular meetings.

Harka Sampang, the independent mayor of Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City, became angry with the ward chairpersons who won from various political parties on Thursday. He was angry at the beginning of the meeting, citing non-cooperation from the ward chairpersons in passing the budget of the sub-metropolis. He accused the ward chairpersons of not cooperating with him as he had won the mayorship as an independent candidate. Video clips of Sampang being angry have been released on various social networks.

At the beginning of the meeting, he asked the ward chairpersons, “What is your intention? This budget is made by you guys. Did I say I should do this, I should do that? I have not interfered in anything. Can you say that you are not responsible for what you have made? Do you say that the son you fathered is not yours? What kind of message does this give?'

Sampang continued his outburst, asking, "Do you mean the mayor necessarily has to be from a political party?" Is that what you are trying to say to the mandate of the people? I defeated my nearest rival with a margin of 5,000 votes. Don’t you accept this fact? What do you answer to the people of Dharan? Every time, you come up with different excuses. See, this is the budget you have made. I haven't done anything. It’s you who decided the allocation of funds for different sectors. Decide today whether to continue the Deputy Mayor Fund. The meeting has been postponed from time to time. When will we pass the budget? Without passing the budget, how will you run the ward? With your own money? Or use donations. I am already asking for it. You guys also start collecting donations. Is this sub-metropolis called Dharan only my responsibility? The people of Dharan have elected you as well. You have to take the responsibility. Is this the way you are supposed to act? Don't be irresponsible. I have been watching the meetings of the executive and municipal council in the past as well. Are you jealous that an independent mayor has come this time? Who am I?  

Meanwhile, some ward chairpersons supported Mayor Sampang, while others slammed the budget book on the table. They were also challenging Mayor Sampang to pass the budget.

Likewise, in the first executive meeting of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Mayor Balendra Shah and Chairman of Ward 16 Mukunda Rijal had a heated argument. Rijal had expressed his indignation saying that there was an attempt to pass the agenda by presenting it in the meeting without discussing with the ward chairpersons. After the relationship between Rijal and Shah soured, Balendra himself reached Rijal's house and had a lunch meeting.

Similarly, chairman of Ward 12, Bal Krishna Maharjan and Mayor Shah had an argument over the issue of waste management. Similarly, while discussing the policies and programs of KMC at the executive meeting on July 22, Ward 7 Chairman Bimal Kumar Hoda had a quarrel with Mayor Shah over 'Why not hold this meeting live?' 

Likewise, independent mayor of Dhangadhi Sub-metropolis, Gopal Hamal had to face deputy mayor Nandakala Rana from the UML on June 24. In the third meeting of the eighth municipal council, dissatisfaction between the two had escalated. The dispute escalated after Rana protested saying that the mayor had published the budget booklet without consulting him.