Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Shah resigned on Sunday.

In a letter addressed to the deputy mayor, Shah said he was stepping down in accordance with the Constitution of Nepal 2015, the Local Government Operation Act 2017, and prevailing laws of the metropolis.

Shah said that he resigned of his own will. Shah, an independent candidate, won the mayoral race of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City in the 2022 local elections.

Shah, in his resignation, said he had tried to work with maximum responsibility in the interest of the metropolis and its residents during his tenure. Shah expressed hope that the leadership, service delivery and development journey of the metropolis would become more effective, transparent and result-oriented in the days ahead.

He also extended best wishes for the success of the deputy mayor and the metropolitan executive.

Shah, who recently entered the Rastriya Swatantra Party, is preparing to contest from the Jhapa-5 constituency in the March 5 elections, with the declared aim of beating four-time prime minister and CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli in his own constituency and institutionalising the agenda raised by the Gen Z movement.

The electoral battle in Jhapa-5 is shaping up to be an intriguing contest this time.

As per the election schedule, nomination filing has been scheduled for Tuesday.