KATHMANDU: Mayor Balendra Shah of Kathmandu Metropolitan City is facing mounting pressure as 41 executive members have jointly demanded that he immediately convene a long-overdue executive meeting.

The demand was formally submitted on Monday following an informal gathering of all executive members—except Mayor Shah—underscoring his growing isolation within the city office.

Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol, who led the initiative, handed over an official letter to Mayor Shah, urging him to call a meeting within seven days.

According to the letter, the last executive meeting was held on Poush 14 (December 29, 2024), and no such session has taken place in the five months since.

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s executive committee comprises members from major political parties including the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Centre), CPN (Unified Socialist), and the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP).

The signatories of the letter included Rozina Shrestha, the sole ward chair elected from the RSP, highlighting the rare political consensus building against Mayor Shah’s unilateral style of governance.

Criticism has been mounting over the mayor’s failure to engage with elected representatives through regular institutional mechanisms.

His perceived reluctance to consult with other members and his working style have led to political friction, with calls for greater transparency and collaboration in city governance.

With a clear majority of executive members demanding immediate action, Mayor Balen now finds himself at a political crossroads.