Harka Sampang

Harka Raj Rai^[a] (born 27 February 1983), also known as Harka Sampang (हर्क साम्पाङ) is a Nepalese politician who served as the 6th mayor of Dharan from 2022 to 2026. He was the first ever independent candidate elected as mayor of Dharan. Sampang is the founder and chairman of the Shram Sanskriti Party since 2025. He was elected as member of parliament from Sunsari 1 in 2026 general elections.^[1][2][3]

Born into a traditional Rai family, Sampang has been active in the Nepalese political scene since 2017. He graduated from Tribhuvan University with a bachelor’s and master's in degree political science. After winning the 2022 Nepalese local elections, he served as the mayor of Dharan until his resignation in January 2026. ^[4]

He has served as the chairman of the Shram Sanskriti Party since its founding in November 2025. He established the party in the aftermath of the 2025 Nepalese Gen Z protests, during which he emerged as a prominent politician. ^[5][6]

Sampang was born in a Kirat Rai family in Khartamchha, Khotang, which is in present-day Kepilasgadhi rural municipality. His father was a British Gurkha personnel.^[7]

He moved to Dharan in 1998 after completing his SLC examinations from Sukrabare School to pursue higher education.^[8]

Sampang graduated in Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English and Political Science from Mahendra Multiple Campus of Tribhuvan University in Dharan and completed master's degree in political science while working as a tutor. After completing his higher education, he went to Malaysia, Iraq and Afghanistan for employment.^[9][10]

After six years working abroad, he returned to Dharan and opened the National Unity Network to protest against corruption. He was also involved in protests against tax raises, illegal sand extraction from rivers and the water scarcity in Dharan. In 2016, Sampang became the coordinator of people displaced by the expansion of the Madan Bhandari Inner Terai Highway.^[9][10][11]

Sampang contested the 2019 re-elections for the mayor of Dharan as an independent but only managed to get 422 votes.^[12]

Sampang again contested at the 2022 elections still as an independent for the mayorship and was elected after getting a vote share of 39.8%. His election symbol was a walking stick which was given by the Election Commission. He defeated Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) candidates by receiving 20,821 votes winning the mayorship.^[13][14]

Sampang served as the Mayor of Dharan Sub-Metropolitan City from May 23, 2022, to January 19, 2026.^[15] His tenure was characterized by a focus on "politics of labor" and direct public mobilization, often referred to as the Dharan Model of development.^[16]

Sampang's administration was best known for the Shramdaan (Voluntary Labor Contribution) movement, which rejected reliance on external loans in favor of community effort.^[11]

• Water Supply: Facing a long-term water crisis, Sampang mobilized thousands of volunteers to lay over 42 kilometers of pipelines from the Khar Khola, Maya Khola, and Kokaha Khola sources.^[17] The project added approximately 700,000 liters of water daily to the city's supply.^[18] This community-led approach cost approximately NPR 70.4 million in public donations, a fraction of the multi-billion NPR estimates for previous government-led projects.^[19] For these efforts, Sampang was recognized with a Certificate of Recognition from the World Book of Records in July 2023.^[20]

• Afforestation: He initiated a "Gift a Tree" campaign and led weekly tree-planting drives on Fridays. By late 2025, over 100,000 saplings had been planted to protect the city's watershed areas, with Sampang setting a long-term goal of 10 million trees.^[21]

Sampang established small-scale industries under the Maya Dharane brand to promote self-sufficiency.

• Soap Factory: Launched in 2024, the factory produces laundry and bathing soap locally. The project provided employment for local youth, including those in recovery from drug addiction.^[22]
• Turmeric Processing Plant: Initiated in June 2025, the plant processes organic turmeric grown by local farmers. In its first month of operation, the facility reported sales of NPR 3.8 million, with products exported to countries including the UK and Japan.^[23]

In October 2024, Sampang embarked on a two-week official tour of the United Kingdom to fundraise for local infrastructure, including the Sumnima Paruhang monument.^[24] He visited The Gurkha Welfare Trust (GWT) in Salisbury, expressing gratitude for their funding of water projects that increased Dharan's capacity by four million liters per day.^[25]

By late 2025, Sampang had become a national figure in the youth-led "Gen Z movement", which protested against political corruption.^[26] Protesters frequently cited him as a model for a "new political alternative." During the unrest in September 2025, he joined demonstrators in Kathmandu, signaling his intent to move into federal politics.^[27]

On January 19, 2026, Sampang officially resigned as Mayor to contest the House of Representatives elections from the Sunsari-1 constituency.^[28]

• Shram Sanskriti Party: On November 2, 2025, he registered the Shram Sanskriti Party (SSP), emphasizing an ideology of self-reliance and labor culture.^[29]
• 2026 Elections: Upon stepping down, he filed his candidacy with the goal of bringing the "Dharan model" to the national stage.^[30]

Following his resignation, Deputy Mayor Aindra Bikram Begha assumed the role of acting mayor.

Sampang transitioned into national politics during a period of significant political shifting in Nepal. His move to the national stage was catalyzed by the 2025 youth-led Gen Z protests and a goal to scale his labor-based development model to a federal level.^[31]

In September 2025, Sampang emerged as a key figure during the Gen Z movement, a series of nationwide protests against political corruption and social media censorship.^[32] During the unrest, which led to the resignation of the government on September 9, 2025, Sampang joined demonstrators in Kathmandu. Protesters frequently cited his "Dharan model" of governance as a viable alternative to the established system, with some groups even proposing him for the role of interim Prime Minister during the transitional period.^[33]

On November 2, 2025, Sampang officially registered the Shram Sanskriti Party (SSP; lit. 'Labor Culture Party') with the Election Commission of Nepal.^[34]

• Ideology: The party advocates for "Harkabad," a political philosophy emphasizing labor culture, environmental stewardship, and a "directly elected executive" system to ensure political stability.^[35]
• Symbolism: The party's election symbol consists of "two hands holding soil," representing a connection to the land and the dignity of manual labor.^[36]

On January 19, 2026, Sampang resigned as Mayor of Dharan to contest the 2026 Nepalese general election, a legal prerequisite for federal candidacy.^[37]

• Candidacy in Sunsari-1: On January 20, 2026, he filed his nomination for the House of Representatives from the Sunsari-1 constituency, which includes Dharan. Despite rumors of contesting against senior leaders in other districts, he chose to stay in his home base to solidify his local support.^[38][39]

• Campaign Style: Maintaining his signature style, Sampang's campaign involves door-to-door visits and "labor-based canvassing," where his team assists residents with street cleaning and community tasks while seeking votes.^[40]

Sampang's political ideology is primarily defined by the concept of Shram Sanskriti (lit. 'Labor Culture'), a philosophy that emphasizes the dignity of manual labor, self-reliance, and the direct participation of citizens in development projects.^[41] His vision is centered on the belief that Nepal's economic and infrastructural progress has been hindered by bureaucratic system disconnected from the working class.^[42]

Sampang’s political ideology is centered on Shram Sanskriti (Labor Culture), which advocates for self-reliance and the dignity of labor.^[43]

Sampang has emerged as a polarizing yet influential figure in Nepali culture and politics, characterized by a shift from grassroots social activism to national political leadership.^[44]

Since taking office in 2022, Sampang's tenure has been marked by both high popularity for his "Shramdaan" movement and significant controversy regarding his leadership style and public conduct.^[45]

Harka Sampang was born on 27 February 1983 in Khartamchha, Khotang District (now part of Kepilasgadhi Rural Municipality) into a traditional Rai family.^[46] He is the son of Til Bikram Rai, a former soldier in the British Gurkha.^[47]

Sampang is married to Nirmala Limbu and resides in Dharan with his family.^[48]

Harka Sampang's unconventional approach to governance and his emphasis on manual labor have earned him several domestic and international honors. His recognition is primarily centered on his success in mobilizing mass volunteerism to solve chronic infrastructure issues.^[49]

• Shram Sanskriti Party