Netizens have erupted in response to Mayor Balendra Shah (Balen) of Kathmandu Metropolitan City accusing former Prime Minister and CPN-UML chief KP Sharma Oli of involvement in a Rs 100 billion scam related to the Giri Bandhu Tea Estate land swap. Balen’s allegations have caused a social media frenzy, with both he and Oli trending online.
The tension escalated when the Road Division Kathmandu attempted to blacktop a road dug up by KMC for pavement expansion in the New Road area, a popular shopping destination. Despite warnings from the Road Division to repair the road within two days, KMC proceeded with their plans, leading to a confrontation between road department workers and city police. In the midst of this, Balen accused Oli of using his political influence to obstruct KMC’s projects and divert attention from the alleged scam. Balen claimed Oli instructed Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghubir Mahaseth, a CPN-UML member, to interfere with the roadworks.
When confronted by the media about Balen’s accusations, Oli responded curtly, deflecting the question back to Balen. This exchange intensified the online debate, with Balen’s supporters criticizing Oli over the Giri Bandhu Tea Estate case. Netizens flooded the comment sections of both Balen’s and Oli’s social media posts. Balen’s sarcastic comment on Oli’s post, wishing him a good night with emojis, received an overwhelming response, garnering more likes than Oli’s original post.
Balen’s initial post accusing Oli of the scam has also received significant engagement, with comments largely in support of Balen and critical of Oli. This controversy has boosted Balen’s popularity, increasing his Facebook following by 2 million. Social media influencers and users have widely shared and discussed the posts, further mocking Oli.
In response, CPN-UML general secretary Yogesh Bhattarai criticized Balen’s actions in the Lower House, accusing him of disrespecting a leader who fought for democracy. Bhattarai’s remarks led to a backlash, with his own social media page receiving numerous negative reviews. Despite this, Bhattarai stood firm, warning against the influence of what he termed “cybergangs” supporting Balen.
The ongoing dispute highlights the clash between Kathmandu’s municipal government and federal authorities, with public opinion largely siding with Mayor Balen Shah. The situation underscores the power of social media in shaping political narratives and influencing public perception in Nepal.
