Nepali society is also reactive and continues to be shaken by small incidents. Moreover, the context of the unity between Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSWP) Chairman Ravi Lamichhane and Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah (Balen) before dawn on Sunday is not small, but of significant political importance.

After a few days of discussions, the two leaders have reached an agreement on power sharing. Balen is ready to accept Ravi as the president of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), while Ravi has agreed to make Balen the leader of the party's parliamentary party and the prime ministerial candidate after the upcoming elections.

The group that wants to see an agreement and cooperation between these two characters who have recently emerged in Nepali politics is excited about this. Another group is criticizing that 'the new ones are also power- and position-oriented'. While enthusiasm is being expressed that Sunday morning is the beginning of a new era, another leader who is emerging in the east, Hark Sampang, has suspected that 'it was at the behest of foreigners'.

More such voices of praise and criticism are likely to be added in the coming days. Applause and abuse are natural after entering politics. However, the level of reaction and wave that has come after this unity raises many questions. Does this unity really have the capacity to lead Nepali politics on the right path? Is this a natural political undertaking or is there also a role for nepathya? How natural is the excitement and expectation surrounding Balen's debut in national politics? Aren't we 'overrating' Balen? 

At one time, a saying was very popular in the election gossip of Kathmandu, 'Ganeshaman wins even if he picks up a stick.' At that time, the stick of the democratic leader Ganeshman Singh had a symbolic meaning. Due to his struggling personality and popularity, he had an impressive image in the public sphere. That 'stick' was a symbol of the struggle and sacrifice he fought for democracy throughout his life. 

That political period during Ganeshman's time is behind us. Now the political landscape of Kathmandu has changed. The number of new faces in politics is increasing. However, the talk of 'stick' is still there today. Now, there is a competition as to who will be Balen's 'stick', not Ganeshman's 'stick'. There is a widespread mentality that if Balen collaborates with him in the upcoming elections, he will not be a 'big winner'. Ravi was also inspired by the same psychology and he has not only collaborated with the election but has also succeeded in bringing Balen into the party.

Kulman Ghising, the patron of the Ujjaya Nepal Party, who is in a similar effort, has been left behind for the time being. Meanwhile, such a ‘media hype’ was created regarding the unity meetings and meetings with Balen, as if he were such a sly character who wins the election even if he picks up a stick.

Before taking this analysis further, a ‘disclaimer’ – here, there is no attempt to compare democratic leader Ganeshman Singh and Balen. There can be no comparison between these characters in terms of history or political personality. However, the image of the stick is becoming a common reference connecting these two characters. Yesterday, the residents of the capital said that Ganeshman would win even if he picks up a stick, and Balen, who won the mayoral election with the stick symbol, is following the ‘predicted and social media-generated commentary’ that whoever he collaborates with is the winner. 

Balen neither has a legacy of political history, nor is he a legacy of renunciation politics like Ganeshman. Neither have his political/ideological views been heard by the people, nor does he have the basis of a strong organization. Despite all this, he has become an image of the extreme despair prevalent in the present times and the anger and expectations that have arisen in its foundation. Balen's attraction, which has reached the peak of populist politics, is not based on the leader of any party or political/ideological view, but has become an expression of the hope of a dissatisfied and angry society. 

Will Balen be able to truly live up to the hopes and expectations of society? Or is he a character who is capable of carrying the burden of the aspirations of contemporary society? As politics becomes more and more diverse, these questions have become more relevant. This time, this column will basically focus on these questions. 

Balen's rise in Nepali politics was a resounding response to the growing party and leader system. Kathmandu Metropolitan City has been experiencing Balen as its mayor since he was a young man. In that sense, he is a character undergoing political testing. His work as mayor is generally liked.

There is also a general understanding that he has done reform work in Kathmandu Metropolitan City. Although people have praised the parking management, educational and health-related reform initiatives related to scholarships/discounts/facilities for poor citizens, temporary waste management, development of a digital system where service recipients can avail facilities online, demolition of some unauthorized houses, etc. However, at the same time, there has been criticism that the excavation of Tukucha, driving dozers in squatter settlements, and the ruthless treatment of sidewalk vendors without making alternative arrangements for them were immature and impulsive actions without homework.

Balen broke the administrative laxity of the metropolis. He did not bow to the power centers and showed the courage to make decisions, but he was criticized and even got into controversy when he lost dialogue, consensus, process, and patience. He communicates with the people only through social media. Not only has he become controversial due to his many comments on social media, but he has also created an immature image. 

It seems that some of the younger generation likes him because of his straightforward statements, and on that basis, his 'anti-establishment' image has also been created. However, his 'Facebook image' does not make him a national leader. Balen has been seen enjoying favoritism, focusing on opaque working style and individualism, many times in the meantime. Some consider him a mayor with a clean image who is not involved in corruption, while there is also an example of him having to go to the authorities when he was complained about in some matters. In essence, he is a courageous leader who wants to work as a mayor and can take risks. However, he has failed in terms of institutionalizing good governance. Therefore, an objective review of his work as a mayor is necessary. Now that he has jumped into national politics, he should be able to grow by identifying his strengths and weaknesses. 

The country's politics are now election-oriented. Major political parties have expressed their commitment to participate in the elections, urging the government to create an environment for elections. Alternative political parties have also concluded their efforts for unity and cooperation with the elections as the centerpiece.

The agreement between Ravi and Balen is said to include other alternative parties as well. The main 'highlight' at this time is that Balen, who was trusted by the voters of Kathmandu as the mayor, has entered party politics. Many of his supporters/well-wishers wanted him to enter national politics.

Insiders used to say that he was preparing internally, but Balen, who won the election as an independent, had not openly expressed his intention to enter party politics. To some extent, when the interim electoral government was formed after the Gen-G movement, when the protesters asked him to become the Prime Minister, he remained silent and did not come into contact. However, now he has entered politics. 

In the changed scenario after the Gen-G street protests and the national devastation that followed, new characters are emerging to handle politics, claiming to be representatives of an entire generation. Characters whose names were not even heard of before the Gen-G protests are in the national spotlight. Most of those characters are Balen's choice. Some have taken the Gen-G movement as a protest/resistance, while others have analyzed it as a rebellion and revolution.

Who will lead it after this movement? While there are debates about why the movement took place and what its destination is, the search for leadership is also underway. Various groups that have opened in the name of Gen-G have requested and pressured Balen to become its leader. Therefore, now he is ready to carry on the legacy of the Gen-G movement. With his entry into national politics, Balen's political destination has become a subject of analysis. Will Balen be limited to a representative of anger or will he transform into a mature leader? His future role will determine these questions.

At this time, Balen has both favor and adversarial views. Balen's biggest favor is that the general public is fed up with the old parties and leaders. Even after such a big setback of the Gen-G movement, there is no scope for reform in the old and main parties. Disappointed voters are looking for new and alternative forces. Balen's image has become a voice against these so-called old parties and the leadership system they have adopted.

He has become an image of a working representative of the people with the changes in the appearance of Kathmandu metropolis. Due to which it can be assumed that he has a lot of support from the urban youth and middle class. The society is tired of the language and style of the old and traditional political parties and leadership. Balen has presented himself in an aggressive style at this time. His straightforward language style and mysterious image have also become a reason for attraction. 

But will his mysterious, opaque style and person-centered tendency be helpful in national politics? It has been made public that Balen has told Gen-G representatives that he is in favor of the constitution and the republic. Some Gen-G activists have also said that they are ready to cooperate after Balen expressed his opinion in favor of the republic and this system.

However, what are his priorities and formulas for institutional reform of the current political system? You should be able to explain. As mayor, he appeared to be person-centered and administratively rigid. Will that style of work be effective if he becomes the prime minister tomorrow? Perhaps he should be able to keep in mind that national politics is governed by complex structures such as power, parliament, constitution, parties, and coalitions. He should learn the political language of cooperation and consensus. Should he become a lone hero or speak the language of collective leadership and cooperation? There are many questions before him. 

Balen is known by society as a leader who cannot tolerate criticism and has a tendency to immediately express violent reactions on social media. Has he been able to transform himself into a leader who can tolerate criticism? Does he accept that disagreement and opposition views are also an integral part of democracy in national politics? Most importantly, what is his perspective on national politics? What is his clear view on the main features of the constitution and the nation of Nepal such as federalism, economic policy, foreign policy, inclusiveness, and secularism? The public wants to know Balen's opinion on these and many other questions.

The most important thing is good governance. The people have sought a system with transparency and good governance. Ravi, who is involved in the cooperative fraud case, is an accused until the court's verdict comes. How can we expect good governance from Balen, who is growing in collaboration with him? Questions have started pouring in on the network. 

The country's politics is in a complex political/constitutional phase. Trust and confidence in politics are being shattered. Many political developments that have taken place after Bhadra 23 and 24 do not seem natural. Nepathya's role and direction seem inspired. At this time, while the old and traditional parties that fought political battles in the past are becoming inactive, the new generation is enjoying populist politics. Populism shows many dreams in the common people, plays on their hopes, trust and confidence emotionally. Populists loudly oppose the aristocracy.