KATHMANDU: With the March 5 House of Representatives election drawing closer, Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah has stepped up political engagements, holding a series of discussions aimed at building an alternative political force.
Shah’s renewed activism has coincided with the return of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane to active politics following his release after nine months in jail in a cooperative fraud case. However, after failing to reach common ground in two separate meetings with Lamichhane, Shah has begun pursuing his own strategy to consolidate alternative political forces.
Over the past two days, Shah has held extensive discussions with independent figures, civil society members and leaders from various political parties. As part of these efforts, he held a nearly three-hour-long meeting on Thursday morning with Kulman Ghising, patron of the Ujyalo Nepal Party and Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation.
The meeting took place at the residence of Shah’s secretariat member Kumar Ben. Ghising left the venue after the talks, sources said, adding that a fresh round of dialogue between Shah and RSP Chair Lamichhane is now expected.
Sources familiar with the discussions said Shah and Lamichhane have been exploring ways to bring emerging and alternative political forces together. On Wednesday night alone, Shah reportedly held talks lasting six to seven hours with several personalities, including RPP spokesperson Gyanendra Shahi, Dr Bhagwan Koirala, actor Nischal Basnet, and Nagarik Unmukti Party patron Resham Lal Chaudhary.
The discussions have focused on whether alternative forces should contest the election under a single election symbol or move forward through a broader alliance or front. During the talks, leaders including Ghising reportedly suggested that registered parties contest the election separately but unite later during government formation.
Lamichhane, however, has maintained that the Rastriya Swatantra Party should contest the election independently with the aim of securing a majority.
“A long discussion took place last night as well. There is no disagreement on the need for alternative forces to move forward together, but deliberations are ongoing on how exactly to do that,” a leader present at the meeting told Khabarhub. “Some concrete decision could emerge by today or tomorrow. Talks are still underway.”
As negotiations continue, Shah’s increasing political engagement signals growing momentum among alternative forces ahead of the polls.
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