Monday, Mar 02, 2026 08:45 [IST]
Last Update: Sunday, Mar 01, 2026 16:40 [IST]
KAKARVITTA, :A huge crowd turned out in Nepal’s Jhapa district for the ‘Road Show’
of former Kathmandu mayor Balen Shah on the final day of the Nepal General Election
campaign.
Thousands
of people, especially from the Gen-Z group, gathered along the route from
Surunga to Kakarvitta near the Indo-Nepal border to welcome Shah, who is
contesting from the Rashtriya Swantantra Party against former Prime Minister K
P Sharma Oli.
In
Surunga, residents lined both sides of Mahendra Nagar Highway, waving hands,
presenting flowers, and throwing colors as the procession passed. People of all
ages participated, reflecting Shah’s growing popularity in the region.
Shah
has pledged to establish an organized parliamentary secretariat in Jhapa-5 to
bridge the gap between citizens and their representative, ensuring that local
grievances are directly conveyed to the federal parliament.
Purnima
Guragain, who traveled from Bahundangi village to catch a glimpse of Shah,
said, “Not only Gen-Z but also senior citizens are now favoring Balen. People
want change in Nepal.”
Campaigning
will be restricted from March 2, following the election committee’s
announcement of the code of conduct. Shah also released his election manifesto
on Saturday, outlining agendas ranging from federal lawmaking to reforms in
local education and health sectors.
The
manifesto states, “While adhering to the Constitution of Nepal-2072, I will
faithfully fulfill the duties specified by the Constitution and actively
contribute in the federal parliament for the enactment, amendment, and revision
of laws to make current practices legally simple, clear, and citizen-friendly.”
It
further pledges, “I will not compromise on matters against national interest. I
will ensure efficient and prompt public services and give special attention to
nature conservation alongside development.”
The Jhapa rally saw the largest turnout of Shah’s political career so far, and is believed to be among the biggest gatherings for any political rally in Nepal.
