KATHMANDU: Khabarhub brings you a glimpse of major developments of the day in Nepal, including politics, business/economy, sports, entertainment, and more.
Balen resigns as Kathmandu Mayor
Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) Mayor Balendra (Balen) Shah has resigned from his post. Shah submitted his resignation to Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol on Sunday. Under existing legal provisions, mayors at the local level are required to submit their resignation to the deputy mayor, and vice versa. In his resignation letter, Shah stated that he has voluntarily stepped down with effect from today. He resigned after being nominated as a candidate of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) for the upcoming House of Representatives elections. “In accordance with the Constitution of Nepal 2072, the Local Government Operation Act 2074, and the prevailing legal provisions of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, I hereby voluntarily resign from the post of Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City with effect from today,” the letter reads.
Balen assumes role of senior leader in RSP
Former Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah has assumed the responsibility of senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). He formally took charge of the position on Sunday after arriving at the party’s central office in Banasthali. Earlier the same day, Shah had resigned from the post of mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City. Following his resignation, he visited the RSP office and rang the party’s election symbol bell. Gen-Z activist Sudan Gurung also accompanied him to the party headquarters. A large number of supporters gathered at the office to welcome Shah. He was received by RSP Chair Rabi Lamichhane.
HoR election: Parties commit to Code of Conduct
The Election Commission (EC) has established the Office of the Election Code of Conduct Implementation and appointed Election Officers. The Commission also organized a discussion with political parties registered to participate in the House of Representatives member election-2082 on the implementation of the Election Code of Conduct, 2082. The discussion was held in the presence of Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari, Commissioners Dr. Janaki Kumari Tuladhar and Sagun Shumsher Rana, and Commission Secretary Krishna Bahadur Raut. Political parties participating in the program stated that they are committed to conducting the upcoming election in a clean, free, impartial, credible, and fear-free environment.
Nepali Congress split: Deuba faction challenges EC in court
The Sher Bahadur Deuba faction, which lost recognition of the Nepali Congress (NC) following the party’s second special general convention, has approached the Supreme Court (SC) with a case against President Gagan Thapa and the Election Commission (EC). Leaders of the Deuba faction filed the writ after the Election Commission’s decision last Friday to strip them of recognition and grant it to the Thapa-led faction. The Supreme Court registered their petition on Sunday, with the hearing scheduled for Tuesday. Since Monday is a public holiday, the court will list the case for hearing on Tuesday, which also coincides with the direct nomination registration for the House of Representatives (HoR) elections on March 5.
Harka resigns to contest HoR election from Sunsari-1
Harka Raj Rai, also known as Harka Sampang, mayor of Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City, has resigned from his post on Sunday evening. Rai is the central chairman of the Shram Sanskriti Party, which has been strengthening its presence in Koshi Province. Rai, who won the mayoral election in 2079 carrying the “Lauro” symbol, resigned to contest the House of Representatives election from Sunsari-1. He submitted his resignation letter to Indra Bikram Begha, the deputy mayor elected from the Maoist Centre in Dharan.
Gautam, Shrestha, and Neupane step down from National Assembly
Three members of the National Assembly (NA) have submitted their resignations. Nepali Communist Party (NCP) leaders Bamdev Gautam and Narayan Kaji Shrestha, along with CPN-UML’s Bhagwati Neupane, have handed in their resignations to National Assembly (NA) Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal, Parliament spokesperson Ekram Giri said. The three leaders, Gautam from Bardiya-1, Shrestha from Sarlahi-3, and Neupane, resigned to contest the upcoming House of Representatives elections from Tanahun-1. Their terms in the National Assembly were scheduled to end on March 4.
Shekhar: Congress dispute now in Court, urges participation in election
Senior Nepali Congress leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala has said that, as a centrist, he is facing pressure within the party but will not be swayed from the middle path. Addressing a gathering of party leaders on Sunday in Kathmandu, Koirala emphasized, “The path of moderation and truth is difficult and challenging, but victory belongs to those who follow it. I am walking the path of truth and will not be distracted.” He highlighted that the party has been influenced by extremism and affirmed his commitment to remain on a centrist course, avoiding any radical pressures.
SC reverses own ruling on 20-meter buffer zone along Bagmati river
The Supreme Court has overturned its earlier decision requiring an additional 20-meter buffer zone along the Bagmati River and its tributaries in the Kathmandu Valley. The full bench of justices Sunil Kumar Pokharel, Bal Krishna Dhakal, and Nripa Dhwoj Niraula ruled that the previous order by a joint bench did not align with legal and judicial principles, and therefore annulled it. A brief order was issued on Sunday. Previously, on Poush 3, 2080, a joint bench (Justices Anand Mohan Bhattarai and Vinod Sharma) had directed that, in addition to the government-mandated 20-meter minimum setback, an extra 20 meters must be left along rivers for map approval and construction permits. The order also declared the additional area as a “no-construction zone.”
Yogesh Bhattarai registers four-point dissent in UML, says arbitrary leadership decisions have wronged dedicated cadres
CPN-UML Deputy General Secretary Yogesh Bhattarai has formally registered a four-point dissent against the decisions of the party’s Central Committee Secretariat meeting, citing serious shortcomings in the candidate selection process for the House of Representatives election scheduled for March . Bhattarai registered his dissent at the party office on Sunday, a day after the Secretariat meeting. In his note, he said the process of selecting candidates was carried out without clear criteria and was influenced by internal factional competition, posing a risk to party unity.
PM Karki, EC officials discuss election issues
As the deadline for nomination of candidates contesting March 5’s election under first-past-the-post system draws closer, Prime Minister Sushila Karki and officials of the Election Commission (EC) held a discussion the relevant matters today. The discussion was held at the official residence of Prime Minister at Baluwatar, Kathmandu. Minister for Finance Rameshwor Khanal, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentarian Affairs Anil Kumar Sinha, Minister for Foreign Affairs Balananda Sharma and Officiating Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari among others dwelt on the election-related matters.
Update on Dharan bus accident: Identities of the 5 deceased revealed
The identities of the five people who died in the bus accident in Dharan have been confirmed. According to Chandra Khadka, spokesperson and Deputy Superintendent of Police at the Sunsari District Police Office, the deceased include: Dhairiya Kumar Yadav from Gaidhabhetpur, Samsi Rural Municipality, Mahottari, 18-month-old Risham Kumar Mandal from Janakpur, Omesh Rai from Barahakshetra-3, Sunsari, Nayan Thapa Magar from Mechinagar, Jhapa, and Subeksha Subba from Dharan-13.
Bhattarai to contest Gorkha-2 seat against UML’s Milan Gurung
Former Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai has decided to contest the House of Representatives election from Gorkha-2. The race in this constituency, previously represented by Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda,’ will now see a direct contest between Bhattarai of the Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party and UML candidate Milan Gurung, popularly known as ‘Chakre Milan.’ Dr. Bhattarai, taking the Pragatisheel Loktantrik Party’s election symbol “Eye,” confirmed that he will enter the race following requests from local leaders, party workers, and voters. “I had planned to take a break, but friends here encouraged me to contest since there is still work to be done,” he said. He arrived in Gorkha on Saturday, consulted with local supporters, and finalized his candidacy.
Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier: Nepal loses to Thailand
Nepal suffered an eight-wicket defeat against Thailand in their opening match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier, which began in Kathmandu on Sunday. The match was played at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. Chasing a target of 123 runs, Thailand reached the total in 16.5 overs, losing just two wickets. The winning runs came off a boundary when two runs were required. Nattakan Chantham led Thailand’s chase with an unbeaten 57 runs. She was well supported by Nanpat Koncharoenkaew, who scored 32 runs, and Ofisara Suwanchonrathi, who contributed 28 runs. For Nepal, Sita Rana Magar claimed both wickets. Nepal will face the Netherlands in their second match of the tournament on Thursday.
Gold price continues to rise, crosses Rs 277,000 per tola in Nepali market
With the onset of the wedding season, gold prices continue to rise in the domestic market, while silver prices have shown some fluctuation. According to the Nepal Gold and Silver Merchants’ Federation, the price of one tola of fine gold was fixed at Rs 277,800 today (Sunday). Meanwhile, the price of one tola of silver stands at Rs 5,625. On Thursday, fine gold was traded at Rs 276,500 per tola, increasing to Rs 277,200 on Friday. During the same period, silver was priced at Rs 5,485 per tola on Thursday and Rs 5,645 on Friday. The Federation stated that prices in the local market have been influenced by fluctuations in international gold and silver prices, movements in the US dollar exchange rate, and ongoing geopolitical uncertainties. According to international media reports, gold is trading at 4,596 US dollars per ounce in the international market today, while silver is priced at 90 US dollars per ounce.
National Assembly session to begin today
The 19th session of the National Assembly (NA) began today. As the Parliament building at the International Conference Centre in New Baneshwor was destroyed by fire during the Gen-Z protests, the meeting convened the session at the Federal Parliament Secretariat in Singha Durbar. In preparation for the session, National Assembly Chairperson Narayan Prasad Dahal convened a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee on Friday.
Swarnim Wagle to contest from Tanahun-1
The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has finalized the constituencies of party Vice Chair Dr. Swarnim Wagle and party leaders Shishir Khanal and Sobita Gautam. According to the party, Dr. Wagle will contest from Tanahun-1, the same constituency from which he won in the previous election. A meeting of the party’s Candidate Selection Recommendation Committee held on Saturday finalized several candidates. The committee decided to field Shishir Khanal from Kathmandu-6, a constituency he also represented after winning in the last election. Similarly, Sobita Gautam will contest from Chitwan-3, party leaders said. Gautam had earlier won from Kathmandu-2 in the 2022 election.
House completely destroyed in fire in Bajura
A house was completely destroyed in a fire that broke out early this morning in Gaumul Rural Municipality of Bajura district. The fire occurred at around 6:00 am at the residence of 30-year-old Bishnu Rokaya, a resident of Gaumul–2, Kuhuda. According to the District Police Office, Bajura, the blaze was caused by an electrical short circuit. Deputy Superintendent of Police Iqbal Hawari said a police team from the Area Police Office, Ghatamuna, was immediately deployed to the scene after receiving information about the fire. The three-storey house with a thatched roof was completely gutted in the incident. Household items including clothes, food grains, utensils, and other materials were destroyed in the fire.
Reconstruction of flood-damaged BP Highway gains momentum
Permanent reconstruction of the BP Highway, which was damaged by repeated floods and landslides, began two months ago and has now gained momentum. The Division Road Office, Bhaktapur, said reconstruction work has been accelerated at three locations along the damaged sections of the highway, a key short route connecting eastern and mid-hill regions of Nepal with the federal capital, Kathmandu. The reconstruction of damaged sections in Kavrepalanchowk and Sindhuli is targeted for completion within the next two years. According to the office, work has started on three sections of the BP Highway. Office Chief and Senior Divisional Engineer Suman Yogesh said three construction companies have been deployed in flood-affected areas to carry out intensive reconstruction work. However, he noted that work on one section to be reconstructed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has yet to begin.
HoR polls: Oli prioritizes loyalty and political deals over merit
The Gen-Z movement of September 8 and 9, 2025 sent a clear message to CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and Nepali Congress (NC) former President Sher Bahadur Deuba: after repeatedly failing, it is time for them to step aside. While the movement successfully dismissed Deuba, who served as Prime Minister five times, through a special general convention led by Gagan Thapa and Bishwaprakash Sharma, Oli appears determined to retain control and target those who question him. Having ensured his faction’s dominance in the 11th UML general convention by nominating 138 representatives, sidelining dissenting voters, and postponing elections, Oli has now taken a similarly arbitrary approach to distributing tickets for the House of Representatives election on March 5.
One killed, one injured in Rautahat road accident
An Indian citizen was killed and another seriously injured in a motorcycle accident at the Kachhuawa Bridge, located between Durga Bhagwati Rural Municipality-3 and 5 in Rautahat. Mintu Paswan of Mahanpur-6, under Piparadhi Police Station in Bihar, India, died when his motorcycle (BR30AE 5138) crashed into the bridge on Saturday evening. The accident occurred along the Gaur-Gangapipara road section. Another motorcyclist, Ramesh Paswan from the same village, sustained serious injuries. According to Bishnu Pradeep Basyal, Deputy Superintendent of Police at Rautahat District Police Office, both were riding at high speed under the influence of alcohol and lost control of the vehicle.
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