Kathmandu, Dec. 26 -- Elected as an independent in the 2022 local elections, Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah stunned the political establishment by defeating, with a huge margin, candidates from traditionally strong parties such as the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML.

After the victory, however, Shah largely withdrew from public and political engagement. He was often criticised for not meeting even his well wishers, let alone voters. He also kept his distance from wider political circles.

That approach appears to have shifted Wednesday, when Shah began a series of meetings. With the March elections drawing closer, he has broken his long silence.

The Sushila Karki-led interim government formed on the back of the Septembe...