Balen's supporters launch unfollow campaign against PM Oli

Kathmandu, September 4 — Supporters of Balendra Shah (Balen), the mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, have launched an unfollow campaign against Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. This move comes amid rising tensions between Balen and the UML party on social media.

Currently, Prime Minister Oli’s Facebook page boasts 662,000 followers. However, following the recent campaign, his follower count plummeted to 62,000 by Wednesday morning, marking a decrease of 60,000 in just 24 hours.

The campaign was sparked by allegations from Balen’s supporters that the government removed a post critical of a UML MP. In response to the removal, Balen posted, "Don't delete the post; go after the guilty. If I’m wrong, hold me accountable. If not, then catch me guilty."

This led to his supporters actively unfollowing Prime Minister Oli. Additionally, a dispute has arisen between the UML and Balen regarding the clearance of a 20-meter stretch of the Kathmandu riverbank. The UML has protested this move and submitted a memorandum to the Kathmandu Metropolis.

The issue has also reached the Kathmandu municipal council, with Deputy Mayor Sunita Dangol and several ward presidents criticizing Balen in a meeting held on Tuesday.