Hark Raj Rai

Harka Raj Rai (born 27 February 1983), also known as Harka Sampang 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. 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. 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.