KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah has removed Ward No. 17 Chair Nabin Manandhar from his position as the spokesperson of the metropolis following sharp criticism directed at him.
Manandhar, who had played a crucial role in helping Chief Administrative Officer Saroj Guragain enter office on April 3, has now been replaced by Ward No. 5 Chair Birendra Prajapati. Prajapati has also been entrusted with the role of coordinator of the Information Technology Committee.
Manandhar was seen leading a group of ward chairpersons and municipal employees who forcefully entered Guragain’s office in Kamaladi, bypassing city police barricades. In the aftermath, he publicly criticized Mayor Shah, declaring that despite supporting the mayor for three years, he could no longer stand by him.
As a result of his dissent, Mayor Shah has not only removed Manandhar from the spokesperson role but also reshuffled the leadership of four major municipal committees under the executive, effectively sidelining those who opposed him and supported the Chief Administrative Officer.
The restructuring was made in accordance with Rule 15 of the Municipal Executive (Work Execution) Regulations 2017 and announced during the sixth executive meeting chaired by Mayor Shah. According to Sub-rule (1), new coordinators have been appointed to the Information Technology Committee, Good Governance Committee, Heritage and Tourism Committee, and Legislation Committee.
Previously, these committees were led by Nabin Manandhar (Ward 17), Khyamraj Tiwari (Ward 26), Ashaman Sangat (Ward 8), and Macharaja Maharjan (Ward 23).
The new coordinators are Birendra Prajapati (Ward 5), Dal Bahadur Karki (Ward 30), Binod Kumar Rajbhandari (Ward 24), and Rojina Shrestha (Ward 16), respectively. Shrestha is also affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha and had recently secured victory in a by-election.
Manandhar was appointed as the spokesperson of Kathmandu Metropolitan City on July 18, 2022.
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