Rastriya Swatantra Party Prepares for First National Convention

Kathmandu. The Rastriya Swatantra Party, which has emerged as an alternative political force, is on the eve of its first national convention. The party, established on Ashar 7, 2079 BS, has organized its first national convention in Chitwan from Ashar 7 to 9. The convention will determine the political vision and strategy, elect the central leadership, amend and approve the constitution, pass future directives and proposals, and clarify the party's stance on national and international issues.

The party has stated that all preparations for the convention are complete. Top leaders, including Chairman Rabi Lamichhane, have already arrived at the convention venue in Chitwan. Leaders, convention representatives, and party cadres are continuously arriving at the convention site. Here is an edited excerpt of the conversation with General Secretary Kabindra Burla Koti regarding the first national convention of RSP:

The Rastriya Swatantra Party, which has emerged as an alternative political force, is on the eve of its first national convention. How are the preparations for the convention progressing?

Preparations are being made organizationally and mentally as the convention approaches. From an organizational perspective, the work to be done began in Baishakh. We specifically started the process of party building through lower-level conventions. Ward gatherings and ward conventions were held on Jestha 2 and 3, followed by local level conventions on Jestha 13 and 14. We completed the conventions of the remaining wards and local levels on Jestha 16 and 17. District conventions were held on Jestha 23 and 24, and provincial conventions have been ongoing since Jestha 26. Except for Madhesh Province, conventions in the other six provinces have been completed. By now, the party is ready for the national convention. Logistical aspects are also largely complete. We are organizing the first national convention in Chitwan. Work is underway to manage the venue required for the convention. All these tasks will be completed by today. Registration of representatives is ongoing and will also be completed by today. Necessary work is also being done regarding observers. Some adjustment work is ongoing during this period. The draft for constitutional amendment is being prepared. The party secretariat meeting held on Ashar 4 directed the convention preparation work. Top leaders of the party are in Chitwan for the convention preparations. A central committee meeting is scheduled to be held in Chitwan today. Leaders from other political parties have also been invited to give good wishes at the opening session of the convention. From all these perspectives, the preparations for organizing the historic first national convention are almost in the final stage.

The convention is also a forum for policy and leadership selection. What kind of policies will be passed at the convention, and how will leadership selection proceed?

Certainly, the convention is an important tool for refining policy and leadership. Generally, the convention is viewed only as a platform for leadership change, the emergence of new leaders, or shifts in leadership. However, the convention also plays a very significant role in policy-making. The convention is particularly important for policy revision and refinement. The RSP's Janakpur meeting prepared a one-page policy document. We refer to it as the party's ideological preamble. We expanded that document at the national gathering held in 2081 BS. We have also used that document as important subject matter in party training. The convention will further refine the preamble prepared by the Janakpur meeting and the expanded document passed by the national gathering. The party's policy and thought department is also carrying out necessary work related to policy. Policy and leadership will be illuminated through the first national convention.

Will the leadership selection be unanimous, or will you go to elections?

Dialogue, consensus, and elections are all integral parts of the democratic process. Therefore, without dialogue, it is not democratic. There is no dictatorial or autocratic style in the Rastriya Swatantra Party. The party chairman is extremely democratic. The chairman himself has issued a written call to conclude the committees at the ward, local, district, and provincial levels through dialogue, consensus, and internal elections. Dialogue, consensus, and internal elections will take place within the party. Through that election, there will also be strong collaboration to prevent division. The current need is to build the party by incorporating dialogue and consensus. Considering how this party was born, how it has reached this point, it has only been four years, the achievements made during this period, and the hopes and trust the general public has placed in us, there is still a long phase of party building ahead, and we will complete the necessary processes through democratic methods.

What message does the RSP's convention convey?

The convention conveys the message that political change is possible and can transform the country's face. In the past political landscape, it seemed that once leaders were appointed or given positions, the system revolved solely around those leaders. Facilities also seemed to revolve around them. Now, we have reached a stage of party building by ruthlessly reviewing that and learning lessons from it. From the perspective of government operation, if any work is being done with bad intentions, the party is guiding it. The party's constitution, regulations, and manifesto direct the government to 'work with a clean intention.' We should expect that the country will change.

RSP entered parliament with about two-thirds of the seats in the election held on Falgun 21. You hold the responsibility of the Chief Whip of that party. How do you observe the recent parliamentary practice?

Parliament seems to be a continuation of the past. We are regularly presenting proposals, discussing them, asking and answering general questions, and passing them with a 'yes' or 'no.' While parliamentary procedure might be that, it needs to be made more efficient. Special attention should be paid to in-depth study of proposals and bills presented in parliament and to enhance constructive public participation in them. There is a felt need to increase the study and research of the subjects presented in the house and to explore whether any new facts emerge from them. This needs to be enhanced. The current practice of the house should be made citizen-centric.

The first session of parliament after the election is ongoing. There are complaints that the government has not been able to provide 'business' to the parliament. How do you view this?

We are currently in the budget session. This session primarily involves extensive discussions on the budget. The government presents, discusses, and passes the budget during this session. Therefore, discussions on bills are relatively fewer. However, there is a practice of presenting other bills in the house along with laws brought through ordinances, if possible. After being elected in Falgun and taking the oath of office as MPs in Chaitra, we haven't had much time; we have already entered the budget. The government is also focused on that. I believe that after this session, we will move forward at a very rapid pace in making laws, reforming laws, and repealing obsolete laws, and that process will begin soon.

Will this session be different from the past?

We will make the house more creative and result-oriented than in past practice.

There are comments that some laws are insufficient and some are obstructive to strengthening federalism and fulfilling public expectations. As the Chief Whip of the ruling party, what role will you play in removing those legal complexities?

There is widespread discussion that the Public Procurement Act itself is an obstacle to advancing development construction. Some issues related to its difficulties have also been included in the government's 100-point agenda. Discussions have been held within the party regarding resolving the difficulties in the Procurement Act and reforming it. The government is moving forward with its work with the plan to implement federalism and guarantee good governance. Work is being done with the plan to transfer powers downwards (to local levels). The slogan 'Singha Durbar in every village' was discussed, but it has not yet been achieved. A new constitution was formed in 2072 BS. The slogan 'Singha Durbar in every village' came during the 2074 elections. Nearly a decade has passed since then, but its implementation has not occurred. This government is trying to fulfill public expectations through good governance. It is trying to deliver passports and driving licenses to homes, and to deliver citizenship certificates to homes after application, eliminating the need to queue. The Ministry of Law is doing its 'homework' to ensure efficiency in lawmaking. Other ministries have also started studying and initiating work on how and which laws need to be reformed and which laws need to be made to resolve the complexities seen in service delivery. These laws will come quickly in the upcoming session.

The Federal Civil Service Bill, linked to the implementation of administrative federalism, is under discussion. Will this bill come in the regular session?

I believe the Civil Service Bill will come in the regular session. The government seems to be preparing for it. I think it will come through the regular legislative process. Other bills are also coming.

Opposition parties are continuing their protests in the house regarding the Prime Minister's statement. How is the ruling party taking this?

There seems to be a convention that the opposition should not abandon its 'agenda' in the house. A culture has developed from the perspective that the opposition should not just speak about whatever the ruling party or the government brings forward. There is also the view that the house belongs to the opposition. Therefore, it seems the opposition thinks it must 'hold onto' the Prime Minister's statement. However, in principle, the Foreign Minister has already refuted that issue. The Foreign Minister's clarification leaves no room for further discussion on that matter.

It has been almost 100 days since the new government was formed under the leadership of RSP senior leader Balen Shah. How do you review the government's work?

The government is moving at a certain pace. Compared to previous governments, the current government appears to be trying to do something. However, there are some legal and procedural hurdles. These also need to be improved and reformed, and the government is firm on that. The government appears to be making every effort to fulfill the commitments expressed in the 100-point agenda related to governance reform. For this reason, the government is moving towards success. The Rastriya Swatantra Party formed the government under the leadership of senior leader Balen Shah to fulfill the expectations for which citizens voted for it. The government is working to fulfill the expectations of the general public.

Will this government fulfill the commitments presented to the public before the election in its manifesto?

It will definitely fulfill them. The government has formulated a specific action plan by incorporating the main issues from its own party's manifesto presented during the election and the manifestos published by other parties, which are in the interest of the country and the people. Because the government has no other second task. Fulfilling the expectations of the citizens and completing the work we have promised is the current government's goal, and therefore, you will not see the government deviating elsewhere; the government is focused on that and working.

Finally, does RSP have any message for the country and the people?

The Rastriya Swatantra Party is a party encouraged by and built by the general citizens. It is a party that stands on the strength of the general citizens. Therefore, the Rastriya Swatantra Party will work in accordance with the expectations and sentiments of the general citizens. The party has committed to working for the national interest. There may be many more expectations, and the Rastriya Swatantra Party is working with a comprehensive action plan to fulfill all of them. The party's national convention is imminent. Through this, policy and leadership will be refined. After that, the pace of work for the government and the party will also increase. I want to await the results of the work done by the party through the government. The Rastriya Swatantra Party will strive in every way to fulfill everyone's expectations.