Rastriya Prajatantra Party Modifies Stance, Omits Directly Elected Prime Minister from Manifesto

Kathmandu. The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has modified its previous stance regarding the form of governance. The RPP has not included the agenda for a directly elected prime minister in its election 'Manifesto' released on Saturday. Previously, the RPP had made 'Directly Elected Prime Minister and Guardian Monarchy' its main agenda in past elections.

This time, the RPP appears silent on the issue of a directly elected prime minister in its manifesto. Party Chairman Rajendra Lingden informed that the party has adopted a strategy to focus on the role of the monarchy and good governance by promoting 'Prithvipath' as the roadmap for future governance.

The new framework for governance published by the RPP mentions 'Monarchy as a Guardian Institution'. Although the party demanded extensive reform and change in the current electoral system, calling it expensive and unstable, it has not prioritized the agenda of a directly elected executive. Instead, the RPP has made the abolition of the provincial level and a two-tier governance structure—center and strong local level—its main agenda.

Taking the Divyopadesh (Divine Counsel) of Prithvi Narayan Shah as its guiding principle, the RPP has put forward 'Prithvipath' as the fundamental roadmap for nation-building.

On the issue of good governance, the RPP has included the aggressive slogan 'We would rather be destroyed than be corrupt' in its manifesto, a subject that Vice Chairman Rabindra Mishra has been raising within the party.

To translate this commitment against corruption into action, the party has put forward the agenda of enacting legal provisions to investigate the assets of high-ranking leaders and officials since 2046 BS and confiscate illegal assets. Interpreting corruption as a dreadful disease, the RPP has declared its firm implementation of a zero-tolerance policy.

As another significant change in the form of governance, the RPP has proposed that the local level should be completely non-partisan. Citing that local development has been affected due to political interference, the party's new thinking is to keep the administration at the lower level outside of political parties.

Furthermore, the RPP has reiterated its indispensable agenda of establishing a 'Vedic Sanatan Dharma-based Hindu Nation with religious freedom respecting all religions' by abolishing secularism.

The RPP has concluded that the country's current crisis can be resolved through the restoration of the monarchy, the abolition of provinces, and the 'Prithvipath' based on the ideals of Prithvi Narayan Shah, rather than the agenda of a directly elected prime minister.