RSP Consolidates Power Across Government, Parliament, and Party Leadership

Kathmandu. The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has established its leadership across the three key fronts: the party, the government, and the parliament.

Having secured nearly two-thirds of the seats in the House of Representatives election held on Falgun 21, the RSP has paved the way to effectively advance these three fronts. Balendra (Balen) Shah leads the government on behalf of the RSP, Dol Prasad Aryal leads the parliament, and the party command rests on the shoulders of Rabi Lamichhane. 

Balen's Responsibility to Lead the Nation

Young leader Shah has been entrusted with the responsibility of leading the country. Shah was appointed Prime Minister on Chaitra 13 in accordance with Article 76 (1) of the Constitution. Upon taking office the same day, he formed a 15-member cabinet. Currently, Shah serves as Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Dr. Swarnim Wagle as Finance Minister, Shishir Khanal as Foreign Minister, Birajbhakta Shrestha as Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, and Sudan Gurung as Home Minister. 

Similarly, Sunil Lamsal is the Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Sobita Gautam is the Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Sita Badi is the Minister of Women, Children and Senior Citizens, Pratibha Rawal is the Minister of Federal Affairs and General Administration, and also oversees Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation.

Likewise, Nita Mehta serves as the Minister of Health and Population, Water Supply, Education, Science and Technology, Youth and Sports, Khadakraj Poudel as Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Dr. Bikram Timilsina as Minister of Information and Communications, and Gita Chaudhary as Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development, and Forests and Environment.

Deepak Kumar Shah was appointed Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security. Prime Minister Shah kept the responsibility of the Ministry of Industry for himself. However, after Labour Minister Shah was dismissed on charges of misuse of office, Ramji Yadav was appointed on Chaitra 24. Gauri Kumari Yadav has been given the responsibility of Minister of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. In the 16-member cabinet, there is equal (50/50 percent) participation from the Rabi and Balen factions. 

On Poush 13, Shah became a senior leader after reaching a seven-point agreement with RSP Chairman Rabi Lamichhane. Point No. 4 of the agreement stated that Rabi would be the party chairman and Balen would be the future Prime Minister. In accordance with this prior agreement, he resigned from the post of Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City on Poush 4 and joined the RSP. On Chaitra 12, a joint meeting of the RSP's Central Committee and Parliamentary Party selected Shah as the parliamentary party leader. 

Rabi's Responsibility to Lead the Party

Rabi Lamichhane will lead the RSP, which has become a major party by winning 182 seats within three years of its establishment. Preparing to hold the first general convention towards the end of Bhadau, he plans to accelerate organizational expansion and conventions at the provincial, district, municipal, and ward levels. 

According to the party's interim statute, there is a provision for a 129-member Central Committee. This will include 100 central members elected along with one chairman, while 22 members nominated by the chairman and the chairmen of the seven provinces will also be members. 

Before the party merger, the RSP had a nine-member executive committee. This included Rabi as Chairman, and Dol Prasad Aryal and Dr. Swarnim Wagle as Vice-Chairmen. After the party took action against General Secretary Dr. Mukul Dhakal, the post remained vacant for some time. The Deputy General Secretaries were Kabindra Burlakoti, Bipin Kumar Acharya, and Sumana Shrestha. Lima Adhikari was the Treasurer and Bashumaya Tamang was the Assistant Treasurer. Later, the party decided to make Burlakoti the General Secretary. 

However, although it was decided to increase the number of officials after teams including Bibeksheel Sajha, the Balen group, and the Gen-Z group joined the party, it has not been implemented. Since Vice-Chairman Aryal was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, that post is vacant. Because Deputy General Secretary Sumana Shrestha resigned, that post is also empty. 

According to the decision of the RSP Central Committee meeting in Poush, it was decided to add two Vice-Chairmen, one General Secretary, one Deputy General Secretary, and one Assistant Spokesperson to accommodate those who joined the unity process. According to the latest update of the RSP, the current officials include Chairman Rabi, Senior Leader Balen, Vice-Chairmen Aryal and Wagle, General Secretary Burlakoti, Deputy General Secretary Acharya, Treasurer Adhikari, and Assistant Treasurer Tamang.

Chairman Rabi, along with these officials and those who joined the unity process, will assist in running the party. By including all groups, the RSP has formed a 93-member Central Committee.

Aryal's Responsibility for the Law-Making Front

Among the main organs of the state, Dol Prasad Aryal (DP Aryal) has been elected Speaker of the House of Representatives. The party decided to make Aryal the Speaker, who was in the party's leadership and wanted to become the Home Minister in the government. In accordance with that decision, Aryal was elected unopposed on Chaitra 22. Aryal has taken charge of the parliamentary front, which is considered an important place for law-making. Similarly, the RSP has expanded the officials of the parliamentary party, which plays an important role in parliament on behalf of the party. 

In accordance with Article 66 (1) of the statute, the RSP has expanded the officials of the parliamentary party, under which Prime Minister Shah is the leader of the parliamentary party.

The parliamentary party meeting held at Singha Durbar on Thursday selected secretariat member Ganesh Parajuli as the deputy leader of the party. Kabindra Burlakoti was selected as the Chief Whip, and Prakash Chandra Pariyar and Krantishikha Dhital were selected as Whips. Although Article 66 (2) of the statute provides for a five-member executive committee including the party leader, deputy leader, chief whip, whip, and treasurer, no treasurer has been selected yet. Pariyar comes from Bibeksheel Sajha.