From unity to factionalism: RPP's Game of Thrones gets spicy

Kathmandu, September 20 — With more than a year left until the regular general convention, which is supposed to be held every four years according to the party constitution, internal conflicts have begun to rise within the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP). Leaders have divided into two groups, strategizing to gain leadership in the upcoming convention and presenting themselves as competitors against each other.

In RPP, which has a significant presence of former Panchayat members, one group is led by Chairman Rajendra Lingden, while the other includes leaders like General Secretary Dhawal Shamser Rana. According to party leaders, both groups have started visible activities to demonstrate their strength within the party.

Rajendra Lingden was elected as chairman by defeating strong candidate Kamal Thapa at the party's unity convention held in November 2021. Under the banner of 'youth leadership', the RPP won 14 seats in the House of Representatives and 28 seats in the provincial assembly in the last elections, benefiting from Lingden's image.

However, as Lingden approaches the three-year mark in leadership, he faces challenges not only from former allies like Dhawal Shamser Rana but also from activities targeted toward the upcoming elections. Janak Raj Pathak, an elected central committee member of the RPP, stated that even though more than a year remains until the party's convention, it is natural for preparations to be underway from different factions. He argues that discussions and debates within the party should not be taken lightly.

The RPP's central executive committee meeting held on September 8, 2024, made necessary decisions to complete conventions at all levels from the ward upwards, further heating the electoral atmosphere within the party. According to spokesperson Mohan Kumar Shrestha, a central election committee has been formed under the chairmanship of committee member Toran Bahadur Gurung to facilitate conventions at all levels.

In addition, RPP has decided to launch a party membership campaign starting from October, declaring the year 2024 as the Year of Party Entry, and emphasizing the expansion of the organization. The party appointed 20 central members under 40 years of age to attract youth.

Spokesperson Shrestha mentioned that the selection committee, chaired by Vice Chairman Dhruva Bahadur Pradhan, conducted interviews based on various criteria and selected 10 men and 10 women as central members. Among the newly appointed members is Miss Nepal World Ashma Kumari KC. The RPP aims to make significant improvements in its organizational functioning and has set a goal of recruiting 200,000 active members within a year.

If conducted on schedule, the RPP's convention must take place by December 2025. Although the chairman has the authority to extend the timeline by a year, the discussions of an "early convention" have intensified the atmosphere for internal elections.

In a previous meeting of the executive committee held in June, the RPP had already indicated its capability to go for an early convention. Consequently, the central committee decided to expedite elections at all levels, keeping in mind the upcoming local elections.

While the spokesperson Shrestha noted that the party aims to complete local-level conventions by the end of May 2025 to keep the organization efficient, he added that discussions about the convention are not yet on the agenda.

"The structures formed for the 2021 convention are now largely inactive," Shrestha said. "We plan to revitalize those structures by forming committees at the ward level and completing district conventions. However, we haven't entered discussions about post-convention matters."

Nevertheless, Shrestha confirmed that the party is still inclined towards holding the convention on time.

Internal dynamics within the party

Former Chairman Lokendra Bahadur Chand has openly expressed dissatisfaction with Lingden's leadership style. He has called meetings at his residence in Lokanthali with leaders who share similar concerns, arguing that Lingden has excluded many from the decision-making process.

Leaders such as Prakash Chandra Lohani, Hari Bahadur Basnet, Nawaraj Suvedi, and Pashupati Shamser Rana have reportedly aligned with Chand's perspective. According to one leader, Chand frequently complains to his close associates that Lingden has undermined the party's foundational structure.

The consensus among most leaders attending the Lokanthali meeting was to unite against this trend in the upcoming convention.

Vice Chairman Bikram Pandey and other leaders, including General Secretary Rana, are also consolidating their factions within the party. Despite one group uniting against Lingden, he is not without support, counting on the backing of influential leaders like Vice Chairmen Buddhi Man Tamang and Dhruva Bahadur Pradhan.

Lingden is expected to run for re-election, regardless of whether the convention is held on schedule or delayed. However, it remains unclear who will stand against him from the opposing faction. General Secretary Rana, known for his influential role, is seen as the frontrunner to challenge Lingden. He has indicated his intention to contest for the presidency within the party.

Additionally, the name of Bikram Pandey has also been mentioned as a potential candidate, although there is less momentum surrounding him at this stage.

"Both Dhawal Shamser Rana and Bikram Pandey are names being floated from the opposing faction, but any nomination will be made in consensus," said one leader, adding that candidates from the opposing faction will have support from leaders like Lokendra Bahadur Chand and Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani.

Interestingly, Rana played a crucial role in getting Lingden elected as chairman during the last convention, yet the two now find themselves on opposing sides.

Distinct political proposals from Rana

In anticipation of the convention, General Secretary Rana is reportedly discussing a distinct political proposal aimed at countering Lingden’s agenda. "The next central committee meeting will see a political proposal from the General Secretary that will present an alternative viewpoint," said a leader close to Rana. "It is expected to create a clear division within the party."

Leaders indicate that there has been a noticeable lack of coordination between Lingden and Rana in recent times. While Rana leads the committee for the planned movement, a main organizing committee has also been formed under Lingden's leadership. Central member Pathak has mentioned that a rapid central training program will soon be conducted under the General Secretary’s leadership, targeting training across all 77 districts and aiming to recruit 20,000 youth for organizational building.

Rabindra Mishra, who previously transitioned from the Bibeksheel Sajha Party to the RPP, has remained silent during this period. However, a leader from the opposing faction stated, "We will bring about a leadership change in the next convention to politically establish the party. We are committed to this goal."

Despite the apparent contradictions in the "New RPP" initiative, concerns over operational style and dissatisfaction remain unchanged. Another spokesperson, Sagun Lawati, noted that, based on past practices, there hasn’t been a situation for consensus leadership selection within the party. "We are now set to follow procedures from the ward to the center as stipulated by the constitution. Despite previous experiences, there seems to be consensus at lower levels, but central elections, including for officer positions, have been conducted," he remarked. He clarified that while it is natural for leaders to formulate electoral strategies, there are no defined factions within the party, emphasizing that the primary responsibility of maintaining unity lies with the party leadership.