DHARAN: In the municipal executive meeting of Dharan Sub-metropolitan City on September 29, 2022, Mayor Harka Sampang proposed developing Saptarangi Park in Dharan Sub-municipality-17 into a multicultural museum. But municipal executive member Anup Dwan opposed the idea stating that the name cannot be changed since the DPR had already been made. Other ward chairpersons and municipal executive members supported Dewan.
Mayor Sampang told Dewan he can sit down as his time to speak was over. This created a dispute between Mayor Sampang and members of the municipal executive. As a result, the meeting had to be postponed. The next meeting of the municipal executive couldn’t be held till December.
Mayor Sampang and ward chairpersons exchanged heated words in the latest municipal executive meeting held on March 15, 2023. The reason was the letter sent to all 20 ward chairpersons undersigned by Sampang’s personal secretary Sudarshan Limbu. Opposing Sampang’s working style, the ward chairpersons threatened to launch a protest.
The municipal executive meeting called last Monday saw the participation of only five municipal executive members. Only the Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and five ward chairs turned up for the meeting of the 28-member municipal executive meeting.
Since the municipal executive meeting is repeatedly getting postponed, people have started expressing concerns that it could stall development projects. The ward chairs are unhappy with Mayor Sampang for “overstepping his jurisdiction”. They saw Sampang must change his working style.
The municipal executive members have accused Mayor Sampang of making decisions unilaterally, not addressing the demands of the majority of members in budget and planning, giving authority to the private secretariat staff, and insulting service seekers.
“Mayor Sampang is overstepping his jurisdiction. We have asked him to change his working style. On the contrary, the resignation of ward chairpersons elected by the people was sought. Which law allows this?” Manoj Bhattarai, chair of Ward-17, questioned.
The municipal executive members have accused Mayor Sampang of making decisions unilaterally, not addressing the demands of the majority of members in budget and planning, giving authority to the private secretariat staff, and insulting service seekers.
Experts say Dharan is lagging behind in development due to disputes among people’s representatives. They suggest that they should not indulge in any dispute that affects development works. Political analyst Dr Rajendra Sharma says the internal disputes among people’s representatives were affecting development works in Dharan. “After winning the election, people’s representatives in Dharan have developed dictatorial tendencies. Democracy also requires restraint. Leadership is a quality to be able to work with others,” he added.
Mayor Sampang was elected as the Mayor by running as an independent candidate in the local body elections held on March 12, 2022. However, the municipal executive members have been criticizing him for proceeding in an arbitrary and irresponsible manner.
Mayor Sampang said he sought the resignation of ward chairpersons after they skipped the meeting of the municipal executive repeatedly.
Earlier, seven political parties of Dharan had issued a joint statement protesting his working style. CPN-UML, Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist-Center), Janata Samajbadi Party (JAP), Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP), CPN (United Socialist), and Federal Democratic National Forum issued the joint statement, requesting Mayor Sampang to mend his ways
In response, Mayor Sampang said he sought the resignation of ward chairpersons after they skipped the meeting of the municipal executive repeatedly. “I have been forced to issue this statement to make the people of Dharan aware of the fact that members have, for the past few months, repeatedly boycotted the municipal executive meeting insulting the mandate given by the people,” Sampang said in a statement. He said the members must attend the municipal executive meeting by ignoring the whips of their respective parties.
“I don’t think the people of Dharan will ever forgive them,” said Sampang.
Mayor Sampang has been active in mobilizing people to contribute labor as part of his plan to supply drinking water to Dharan from the Koshi River.
