KATHMANDU: Amid his ongoing rift with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and failure to table the Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s budget for fiscal year 2082/83, Mayor Balen Shah recently met with former President Bidya Devi Bhandari.
According to sources, Mayor Balen visited Bhandari’s residence in Bhagal, Budhanilkantha last Thursday and held a half-hour discussion.
The visit was confirmed by Shah’s press advisor, Surendra Bajgain, who said the meeting was initiated at Bhandari’s invitation and stemmed from a longstanding relationship.
The meeting took place at a time when Mayor Shah has been increasingly vocal against Prime Minister Oli. During the meeting, Balen is reported to have discussed the stalled budget, recent political developments, and sought support or facilitation to resolve the impasse.
The meeting is also notable because Balen was taken to Bhandari’s residence by Krishna Gopal Shrestha, UML MP from Kathmandu Constituency-9, who has been actively working behind the scenes. UML standing committee member Sherdhan Rai, a known ally of Bhandari, was also present during the talks.
Although Bhandari’s personal secretary Rajkumar Rai did not officially confirm the meeting, a source close to the former president said it did take place.
The source claimed Balen congratulated Bhandari on her decision to renounce government-provided benefits and expressed admiration for her bold political comeback.
Reportedly, Balen also raised concerns about the federal government’s obstruction in moving forward with the city’s budget and requested Bhandari’s help in easing the deadlock. He is said to have expressed a desire to remove Chief Administrative Officer Saroj Guragain if necessary to ensure budget approval.
Bhandari recently declared her return to active politics under the CPN-UML banner during a program marking the 74th birth anniversary of her late husband, Madan Bhandari. This announcement has caused noticeable unease within UML, particularly for Oli, who indirectly criticized her during the same event.
The Balen-Bhandari meeting is seen by political observers as a strategic move that could heighten the existing tension between Oli and Bhandari, with implications for both national and local politics.
CAO Guragain responds amid mounting pressure
In a related development, Chief Administrative Officer Saroj Guragain, who had until now remained silent on his dispute with Balen, publicly defended himself on Sunday.
Guragain said his role in the Kathmandu Tower blueprint approval process was limited to endorsing previously made decisions. He denied any wrongdoing and said he was being subjected to character assassination based on false and misleading information.
He asserted that the documents clearly show the building’s blueprint had been approved by the previous CAO and Mayor Balen himself, and that he merely carried out procedural endorsements.
“No government authority has found me guilty of corruption,” Guragain said, adding that the public attacks from Balen’s secretariat had prompted him to finally speak out. He is reportedly considering whether to continue in his current role after the start of the new fiscal year and is expected to consult with the Prime Minister and Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration before making a final decision.
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