Sampang bypasses Deputy Mayor, assigns acting mayorship to ward chair

ITAHARI: Dharan Mayor Harka Sampang has named a war chairperson as acting mayor, bypassing the deputy mayor.

Sampang who is leaving for the United Kingdom has assigned acting mayorship to Ward 11 Chairperson Lokendra Phago effective from Wednesday.

It has been learned that Sampang gave this responsibility to Phago on Wednesday itself, as Thursday onwards will be public holiday. Mayor Sampang is leaving for the United Kingdom on Monday.

According to Section 16(A)(12) of the Local Government Operation Act 2074, if a municipal mayor or rural municipality chairperson is to be absent from the municipality for more than seven days, they must designate the deputy chairperson or deputy mayor as acting head.

The Act further states that if the deputy chairperson or deputy mayor is also absent, the responsibility can be given to any member. However, Mayor Sampang has assigned this role to Ward Chairperson Phago, contrary to the Act, bypassing Deputy Mayor Aindra Bikram Begha.

Deputy Mayor Begha stated that he has no plans to leave the town. He said he was not consulted while taking the decision.