Rival Mayors In Nepal Fight For Interim PM Role, Dharan Mayor Calls Balen Shah ‘Coward’

Last Updated:September 11, 2025, 17:30 IST

Nepal’s Gen Z protesters are split over leadership as Harka Sampang, Balen Shah, and Sushila Karki vie for support, while Kulman Ghising emerges as a compromise candidate.

Dharan Mayor Harka Sampang called Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah a “coward” as rivalries over Nepal’s interim leadership intensify. (IMAGE: @RONBupdates/@ShahBalen/X)

Nepal’s Gen Z protesters, who toppled the government after days of violent unrest, remain divided over who should head a transitional administration. Sharp exchanges among frontrunners spilled onto social media on Thursday, highlighting splits within the movement.

Harka Raj Rai, better known as Harka Sampang, the independent mayor of Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City, lashed out at Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah in a social media post, calling him a “coward” who hides in times of crisis.

“A person who hides in times of crisis, cannot face the streets, passes the responsibility given to him onto others, cannot confront difficult situations and expects others to carry the burden, considering such a person as a leader is why our country has neither solutions nor development,” Sampang wrote, according to Nepali news outlet ProPublica.

Sampang, who rose to prominence after his 2022 mayoral victory as an independent candidate, has positioned himself as a people’s representative.

He often rejects VIP privileges, saying he prefers to stand in line with the public rather than use special lounges, according to reports by ProPublica.

This has made him a favourite among sections of the Gen Z demonstrators.

The rift deepened after Nepal’s Army urged protest leaders to present a clear candidate to lead the country through its current transition.

Supporters of retired chief justice Sushila Karki, 73, clashed with backers of Balen Shah outside Army headquarters in Bhadrakali. Another bloc rallied behind Sampang, turning the contest into a three-way split.

Karki, who made history as Nepal’s first female chief justice in 2016, has emerged as the frontrunner to head an interim government, but support for Balen Shah remains significant.

Names of businessman Durga Prasai and parliamentarian Sumana Shrestha were also floated, though without consensus.

Amid the jostling, Kulman Ghising, the managing director of the Nepal Electricity Authority, has emerged as a compromise figure.

Widely respected for his integrity and credited with ending chronic power outages in Nepal, Ghising is being described by protesters as “a patriot and everyone’s favourite”.

About the Author

Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev…Read More

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev… Read More

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