Rockstar Mayor’s Flop Show: A Spectacle That Fooled Innocent Dharan Locals
By Ghanshyam Tripathi, Nepal Aaja The images above are for representative purposes only.
Dharan — Harka Raj Rai, widely known as Harka Sampang, the mayor of Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City, has long been celebrated on social media as the “Rockstar Mayor.” But behind the glossy persona lies a series of administrative misdeeds, allegations of corruption, and a trail of disappointment for the very people who once believed in his promise of change. Instead of development, his tenure has been marked more by drama, speeches, and performance stunts—pushing Dharan deeper into economic, social, and administrative turmoil.
Deputy Mayor Aindra Bikram Begha has accused Mayor Sampang of misusing municipal funds under the guise of “voluntary labor,” by illegally constructing falsified files. Begha claims that in the case of a retaining wall construction at a multilingual school in Ward-16, Sampang fabricated attendance records for laborers and used them to siphon funds. These documents, allegedly signed by Sampang himself, were found to be in violation of legal procedures. “The mayor has committed legal corruption and manipulated his colleagues for personal gain,” Begha stated.
Similarly, Ward-16 Chairperson Murari Bhattarai has accused Sampang of forming consumer committees unlawfully, excluding local stakeholders, and appointing his close allies instead. “The mayor appointed his own people without informing the community or following legal protocols,” Bhattarai said during a press conference, adding that Sampang forcibly dismantled a legally formed committee and imposed his preferred members instead.
The internal turmoil within Dharan Municipality has escalated dramatically in recent days. After Begha halted budget releases for questionable labor claims, Sampang’s supporters reportedly attempted to physically assault him. The conflict escalated further as Maoist-affiliated cadres came to Begha’s defense, resulting in near-violent confrontations inside the municipal premises.
Mayor Sampang’s involvement in development plans has also raised serious concerns. Over NPR 70 million was collected for a water supply project, yet significant discrepancies in expenditure have been uncovered. Funds labeled under "voluntary labor" lack transparency, and the public's trust is eroding. Additionally, Sampang has been criticized for spending NPR 200,000 to plant a cottonwood tree in front of his house and NPR 235,000 on a drone, the whereabouts and purpose of which remain undisclosed.
But perhaps the most symbolic scandal is his refusal to repair the “Local Government” signboard at the municipal gate—damaged during protests in 2021. The board, originally altered by Sampang during a beer-fueled epiphany, now stands as a broken monument to failed promises. He has allegedly refused to repair it, intending instead to turn it into an election issue. Residents ask, “Is he leading the city, or promoting himself?”
Many in Dharan no longer see Sampang as a representative of development but as a stuntman masquerading as a mayor. His charisma may lie in his guitar and words, but Dharan’s real problems—water shortages, stalled projects, bureaucratic abuses, and corruption—remain unresolved.
It seems Mayor Sampang has merely put on a show, lifting up the hopes of the people only to let them fall harder. But this time, the citizens of Dharan appear ready to pull the curtains on the Rockstar Mayor’s performance. What they demand now is not just a melody and a slogan—but real work and real change.
