KATHMANDU: In Kathmandu newly elected lawmaker Harka Sampan has said his Shram Sanskriti Party will not join the government.

Speaking to journalists, he explained that voters did not give his party a mandate to be in power. Instead he said, the public expects them to sit in opposition and question the government.

“We will work according to the mandate given by the people,” he said, adding that his party will support good decisions but strongly oppose bad ones.

When asked whether they would join the government if invited by Rastriya Swatantra Party, Sampan made it clear they would not.

He also repeated his view that Rabi Lamichhane should become prime minister, not Balen Shah.

According to him, the country needs a prime minister who can answer questions raised by the opposition in a clear and timely way.

Sampan also addressed his earlier statement about becoming prime minister. He said many leaders, including KP Sharma Oli, Gagan Thapa and Kulman Ghising have made similar claims in the past.

“But my words alone cannot make me prime minister,” he said. “The people did not give that mandate.”

He added that he respects the voters’ decision and believes he is not above the people.