Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah Resigns to Contest Nepal Parliamentary Election

Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah, known as Balen, resigned to contest Nepal's March 5 parliamentary election from Jhapa-5, challenging former Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli. After Oli's September resignation amid youth protests, Balen declined to lead the caretaker government, which was headed by former Chief Justice Sushila Karki. An independent mayor since 2022, Balen joined the Rastriya Swotantra Party and is its prime ministerial candidate, citing his commitment to honest governance and urban reforms.