Greeting from the Vehicle in Rajbiraj, Balen Waves and Returns Without Stepping Out

Rajbiraj — Senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Balen Shah, arrived in Rajbiraj of Saptari on Tuesday but returned after waving from his vehicle without meeting party workers or supporters in person. The visit, scheduled with a focus on the House of Representatives election to be held on Falgun 21, appears to have left more disappointment than enthusiasm at the local level.

From early morning, party leaders, cadres, and supporters were waiting for Balen at various locations in Rajbiraj. As per the program, he was expected to offer floral tributes at the statue of the late leader Gajendranarayan Singh (Gajendra Babu) at Gajendra Chowk and then proceed to the nearby party office. However, upon reaching Gajendra Chowk, Balen surprised those present by not stopping the vehicle and instead tossing a garland toward the statue before moving on.

There were further expectations that the vehicle would stop in front of the party office. However, Balen Shah passed by the office gate without halting. Believing that he would return after having a meal at a hotel in Rajbiraj to formally pay tribute at the statue and hold meetings at the party office, party leaders, cadres, and supporters waited there for more than an hour. But after finishing his meal, Balen headed west along the Hulaki Highway, forcing the waiting group to return home in disappointment.

Local party leaders and cadres have stated that the failure to implement the program as planned and the leader’s brief presence adversely affected organizational morale. They argue that at a time when the election atmosphere is heating up, such an incident raises questions about coordination and communication within the party. As the Rajbiraj visit remained more symbolic than substantive, it is believed that the RSP’s electoral message could not be communicated as expected.