Kathmandu. Social media is currently abuzz with Kulman Ghising and Balen. Social media users are reacting sharply to the decision of the Council of Ministers to remove Kulman from the post of Managing Director of Nepal Electricity Authority and the status posted on Facebook by Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Balendra Sah (Balen) expressing anger over the non-payment of salaries by his employees.

On X (formerly Twitter), ‘Kulman Ghising’ has been trending in Nepal. As soon as the news of Ghising’s removal from the responsibility of the Authority by the Council of Ministers meeting held on Monday came out, X users have been reacting.

Similarly, Kulman Ghising has been trending in ‘Popular Now’ on Facebook. Hundreds of posts and thousands of comments have been made about him.

Most social media users have supported Ghising for ending load shedding and improving power supply during his tenure, while criticizing the decision of the Council of Ministers.

Those criticizing the government include leaders from the ruling party, opposition parties, and the general public. Nepali Congress General Secretaries Gagan Thapa and Bishwaprakash Sharma expressed their disagreement with the government's decision on social media immediately after the cabinet decision was released. Similarly, Congress leader Dr. Shekhar Koirala also opposed the government's move.

From the main opposition party, Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) President Ravi Lamichhane and various other leaders and cadres and the general public, some have defended the government on social media.

Mayor Balen posted a status on Facebook. After the government did not send a Chief Administrative Officer, all financial transactions, including salaries, were stopped, he posted a status in a threatening manner expressing his strong dissatisfaction with the federal government.

"Kathmandu Metropolitan City sanitation workers have not received their salaries for the past 3 months, due to the government's arrogance! I don't know what kind of agitation they will launch, if our employees do not receive their salaries in the next week, I will bury them all in pieces! We will see what your tactics are!!" Balen wrote.

The status has received 391,000 reactions and about 76,000 comments. 27,500 have shared the status. While most social media users supported Balen, some have commented that the choice of words and style used by the responsible public representative are uncomfortable and insensitive.