KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol openly challenged Mayor Balen Shah, urging him to step forward and resolve the crisis instead of issuing orders from behind closed doors.
Dangol’s strong remarks came after Chief Administrative Officer Saroj Guragain entered the KMC office after more than three months, defying a blockade set by municipal police on Mayor Shah’s orders.
Despite being allowed inside the building, Guragain was unable to enter his office as Shah had personally locked it and disappeared with the key.
In an informal municipal meeting held in response to the incident, Dangol delivered a direct message to Mayor Shah, questioning his leadership approach.
“Should we just sit here and watch this spectacle? If this is the mayor’s order, he should come forward and take responsibility. You cannot lead a city by staying locked in a room and issuing verbal commands,” Dangol said.
She further stressed that the administrative deadlock has caused unnecessary suffering, particularly for thousands of KMC employees whose salaries have been withheld for three months. She also highlighted the delay in crucial public services, including financial assistance for cancer patients.
“The Chief Administrative Officer is here under the ministry’s directive. If he is guilty, let the due process take its course. But we cannot let this power struggle bring the city to a standstill. The people of Kathmandu deserve better,” she said.
As frustration grew, KMC employees and ward chairmen staged a protest, condemning Mayor Shah’s ego-driven politics and accusing him of prioritizing social media stunts over real governance.
Protesters chanted slogans and demanded that Sah unlock the office and address the ongoing salary crisis immediately.
When questioned by Dangol, City Police Chief Rajunath Pandey admitted that the lock was placed under Shah’s verbal orders and refused to open it without further instructions.
With the standoff intensifying, Dangol and other city representatives have called for an urgent board meeting, demanding an end to the administrative paralysis.
“If we truly care about the welfare of Kathmandu’s residents, we must put aside personal disputes and work together. This issue must be resolved today,” Dangol said.
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