KATHMANDU: Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City Mayor Harka Sampang has claimed he turned down ministerial posts in Kathmandu after being asked to visit the Indian Embassy, saying such a condition made him hesitate.
Sampang, who recently traveled to Kathmandu with ambitions of taking national leadership, disclosed on social media that he was offered two ministries, Water Supply and Labour & Employment, but rejected them after being told he would need to go to the Indian Embassy.
The outspoken mayor said his attempt to strike a deal with Nepal Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel for the prime minister’s post had failed, prompting his return to Dharan. Now, through a string of Facebook posts since late Sunday night, Sampang has insisted that his refusal to take office shows he is not power-hungry.
“People accuse me of being greedy for position, but they don’t understand. At a time when the country is burning and everyone else is hiding at home, I traveled 500 kilometers to take responsibility,” he wrote. “I was offered two ministries, Water Supply and Labour & Employment, but I did not accept them. I hesitated when I was told to go to the Indian Embassy. In time, even my critics will understand who Harka Sampang really is.”
Sampang has made over a dozen posts in just eight hours, many accompanied by short videos and reels, reiterating his position. His remarks have stirred debate online, with some supporters praising his stance as patriotic while critics call his claims exaggerated and opportunistic.
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