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KATHMANDU, June 12: Long-time US-based artist Bhagwan Bhandari has revealed that a serious discussion has taken place among Mayor Balen Shah of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Mayor Harka Sampang of Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City and 20 other young individuals regarding the formation of a new political party.
According to a post on Bhandari's official Facebook account, the discussion between Balen, Hark, and other 20 youths residing in various countries wasn't only about Nepal's politics, but also about advancing toward the formation of a new party. Bhandari mentioned that there was almost a consensus on appointing Sumana Shrestha as the chairperson of the proposed party.
However, it is unclear whether the Sumana Shrestha Bhandari referred to is the same Sumana Shrestha, who is a former minister and a current member of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). Bhandari has said that they have nearly agreed on appointing Sumana Shrestha as the chairperson, but there are still some details to be clarified.
In his Facebook post, Bhandari shared that the group had a serious discussion about transforming Nepal's politics. Everyone agreed on displacing old corrupt politicians and taking the politics of the country in a completely new direction. While Hark was somewhat adamant, Balen’s flexibility and willingness to agree were well-received by the group. The idea of having one chairperson and several co-chairpersons also seemed to have garnered broad support, despite some initial disagreements about Sumana Shrestha’s position.
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Bhandari also revealed that the group had come to a consensus on the party's new name, and he felt that the 65-minute discussion was entirely positive.
On the other hand, both Shah and Sampang are not far from launching a new party. Sampang has already announced plans to create a new party ahead of the 2084 (2027) general elections. Shah, although not publicly vocal about it, is said to be preparing for the same, with some young individuals abroad working on forming a party under his leadership.
Meanwhile, Sumana Shrestha, a former minister and current member of the RSP, has recently resigned from her position as the party’s co-general secretary, citing the "one person, one position" policy.
The news originating from the US is yet to be fully verified for its factual accuracy. However, it is interesting to note that Sumana Shrestha spent a significant time in the US, and it is unclear whether the Shrestha mentioned by Bhandari is indeed the same person.
When attempts were made to contact Sumana Shrestha for clarification, no conversation took place. Recent reports suggest that she has not been fully satisfied within her party and she expressed similar sentiments in a recent interview with Nagarik Frontline.
