KATHMANDU: Dharan Mayor Harka Sampang has returned from Kathmandu empty-handed and furious, venting his anger at Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah after being denied a ministerial position in the interim government led by Sushila Karki.
On Monday, Sampang launched a blistering attack against Balen, challenging him to contest a direct election for executive head. “Don’t underestimate me. If you dare, run for direct executive chief. If I lose, I’ll work as a servant in your house for a year. If you lose, you’ll plough my field for a month. Can you? Or will you just hide? Coward!” Sampang wrote on social media.
Defending himself against accusations of being power-hungry, he accused Balen of hiding indoors while the country burned.
“When the country was in flames and leaders were hiding at home, I traveled 500 kilometers to Kathmandu to take responsibility. I even refused two ministries, Water Supply and Labor & Employment, because they required me to go through the Indian Embassy. I hesitated. Opponents will later know who Harka Sampang really is,” he said.
But Sampang’s fury soon gave way to tears. In a viral interview on Tuesday, the outspoken mayor broke down, warning of growing foreign interference in Nepal and lamenting that no leaders had stepped up to guide the nation after the Gen-Z uprising. “Foreigners could take over at this very moment. Leaders have fled, party offices are destroyed, nobody knows what’s happening. Who will lead?” he cried.
Sampang insisted that young people had urged him to claim leadership, even risking his life by coming to Kathmandu despite threats. He admitted meeting Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel but returned to Dharan without any portfolio, while expressing support for interim Prime Minister Karki.
Amid Sampang’s public breakdown, Balen Shah appeared to strike a softer tone. On Tuesday afternoon, he responded on Facebook with an emotional message: “Dear Harka Sampang, no matter how much you insult me, I will never stop loving you. Even if it is one-sided, my love for you is true. You are my true love.”
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