Kathmandu . Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City remains without an approved budget for over a month due to disputes between Mayor Harka Sampang and Deputy Mayor Indra Vikram Begha and a lack of political coordination. The deadlock among elected representatives has halted development work, employee salaries, social security payments, and other financial transactions.

According to the Local Government Operations Act, 2017, local governments must pass their annual budget by Ashadh 10, but Dharan failed to comply. The conflict intensified over payments for fencing at a multilingual school in Dharan-16, with Deputy Mayor Begha and several ward chairpersons opposing the release of funds, while Mayor Sampang insisted that no other payments would proceed without it. Clashes between supporters of the mayor and deputy mayor within the municipal office added to the tension.

Residents have expressed concern that political disputes are obstructing the city’s development and urged all sides to reach a consensus to approve the budget. Mayor Sampang, an independent, and Deputy Mayor Begha, from the Maoist Center, have long had strained relations, leaving Sampang politically isolated in an executive dominated by Congress, UML, and Maoist Center representatives.