Kathmandu- Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane held a rare, prolonged private meeting late Monday night, spending more than six hours together in discussions that ranged from politics to music. The meeting, described by participants as an “ice-breaker,” ended with the two leaders singing together and travelling in the same car for nearly a kilometre—an act widely seen as a symbolic political message.
Two Leaders, Two Temperaments
Mayor Balendra Shah, known for his reserved public presence and preference for Facebook statements over speeches, contrasts sharply with Rabi Lamichhane, a media-savvy leader who once entered the Guinness World Records for a 72-hour interview marathon.
Despite their starkly different personalities, both leaders have emerged as central figures in post–Gen Z movement politics, with growing public expectations that they may shape the country’s next political course.
The Six-and-a-Half-Hour Meeting
According to sources, Balen arrived at RSP the then MP Asim Shah’s Kamalpokhari residence at 6:40 pm, while Rabi reached around 7:05 pm. They left together at 1:30 am.
The gathering initially included introductions and light discussions among a small group of leaders. Serious political conversations began after dinner, with Balen and Rabi later holding extended one-on-one discussions.
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A participant described the atmosphere as informal but purposeful, marked by jokes, laughter, and eventually deep political dialogue.
Music as the Icebreaker
One of the most talked-about moments of the night was an impromptu singing session. Participants say Rabi deliberately chose music as a way to connect with Balen.
The two sang several songs together, including “Jaha Chhan Buddha Ka Aankha…”, for nearly half an hour, accompanied by guitar.
“This wasn’t planned politics. This was about emotion, compatibility, and understanding,” said a participant.
Political Context and Calculations
The meeting came amid intense pressure on new political forces to unite following the Gen Z movement and the fall of the Congress–UML government.
Rabi’s release from Nakkhu Prison on Poush 4, after 14 months in custody in connection with cooperative fraud and money laundering cases, provided the immediate window for the meeting.
Sources confirm that for nearly one-and-a-half months, intermediaries had been working quietly to bring Balen and Rabi together.
Prime Ministerial Question on the Table
According to RSP sources, discussions included various governance models, including the possibility of projecting Balen as a prime ministerial candidate in the upcoming elections.
“This proposal did not come from Balen; it came from Rabi,” said an RSP leader. However, Balen has not publicly responded. Leaders close to him say that while power-sharing was discussed, no agreement was reached.
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The One-Kilometre Political Message
After leaving the residence, Balen and Rabi sat in the same car driven by RSP Deputy Chair DolPrasad Aryal and travelled together from Kamalpokhari to Narayanchaur, around one kilometre.
Both had separate vehicles waiting. “They wanted to go together and deliver a message,” said an RSP leader.
RSP leader Asim Shah described the meeting as a “happy beginning,” though he cautioned that outcomes remain uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the meeting has shifted political conversations—turning speculation into visible symbolism and placing Balen and Rabi firmly at the center of Nepal’s evolving political landscape.
