KATHMANDU: Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balen Shah has agreed to convene the long-delayed executive meeting and municipal assembly after holding a discussion with Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol and three ward chairs on Wednesday at Kathmandu Plaza.

The meeting marked the first direct communication between the mayor and deputy mayor in over two months, following a period of heightened tensions and institutional deadlock.

The discussion included Ward-17 Chair Nabin Manandhar, Ward-32 Chair Nabaraj Parajuli, and Ward-15 Chair Ishwarman Dangol.

According to ward officials, the mayor and deputy mayor agreed in principle to call an executive meeting soon, primarily to deliberate on the upcoming municipal budget, with plans to address other contentious issues gradually. However, no specific date has been announced.

Significantly, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Saroj Guragain—at the center of the dispute—was not invited to the meeting. Though the CAO serves as the legally mandated member-secretary of the executive body, Mayor Shah was reportedly unwilling to include him in the talks.

The conflict over Guragain had previously led to a deep rift between Mayor Shah and Deputy Mayor Dangol, paralyzing municipal operations.

Kathmandu’s executive meeting has not been held since December 29, preceding the 16th municipal assembly. With over five months of inactivity, this recent development signals a possible breakthrough in restoring governance within the city.