Internal Tensions Surface Between PM Balen Shah and RSP Chair Rabi Lamichhane

Kathmandu. Just 22 days after the formation of the government, questions have begun to arise regarding the relationship between Prime Minister Balendra (Balen) Shah and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Rabi Lamichhane.

On Chait 12, Balen became the parliamentary party leader at Rabi's proposal. On Chait 13, the President appointed him Prime Minister under Article 76(1) of the Constitution. Since the government's formation, there has been political speculation that Prime Minister Balen is interfering in both the government and parliament.

Differences between Rabi and Balen have been interpreted, particularly in the selection of ministers, the Deputy Speaker, and parliamentary committee chairs.

Internal leadership capacity was questioned after Labor, Employment and Social Security Minister Deepak Kumar Sah was recalled just 12 days into his tenure. During a joint meeting of the central committee and parliamentary party held at the central office on the eve of the government's formation, leaders raised questions regarding the selection of ministers, party officials, and committee chairs.

However, Chairman Rabi urged the leadership to trust his judgment in balancing performance, experience, geography, and inclusivity. Minister Sah was accused of abusing his position to actively involve his wife, Junu Shrestha, as a member of the Health Insurance Board.

Based on this, the party's disciplinary committee investigated and recommended action. Following the committee's letter, Rabi recommended the removal of Minister Sah to the Prime Minister on Chait 26. Immediately after the party's recommendation, Prime Minister Balen dismissed Minister Sah.

Similarly, dissatisfaction over the selection of the Deputy Speaker became public due to a lack of consensus between Rabi and Balen. Until the morning of Chait 27, the two leaders could not agree on whether to give the Deputy Speaker position to the RPP or the new party, Shram Sanskriti Party.

Different opinions between Rabi and Balen regarding the Deputy Speaker

Since the Constitution requires the Speaker and Deputy Speaker to be from different parties/genders, Rabi stood in favor of the RPP. Balen supported the Shram Sanskriti Party. Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal, who is close to Rabi, was elected. RPP parliamentary party leader Gyanendra Bahadur Shahi claimed that Rabi had influenced the registration of Saraswati Lama's candidacy for Deputy Speaker, but immediately after the RPP filed its candidacy, the Shram Sanskriti Party fielded Ruby Kumari Thakur at the proposal of the RSP.

Shahi criticized Rabi in parliament, claiming the RSP had betrayed them regarding the Deputy Speaker position. It is rumored in political circles that Rabi pushed for current Speaker DP Aryal to be Home Minister, but he failed to secure the position due to Balen's interference.

Some RSP leaders have begun expressing dissatisfaction with the leadership's style in running the party and government. Leaders have accused both Rabi and Balen of failing to trust the collective leadership system.

On Thursday afternoon, the RSP called a parliamentary party meeting to select chairs for 12 parliamentary committees. No one in the meeting questioned the names proposed by Chairman Rabi, despite the party's decision to appoint capable and experienced individuals. However, one leader expressed dissatisfaction that the collective leadership system is fading within the party.

'I received information about the parliamentary party meeting. I attended. The Chairman proposed the names. He claimed he was proposing them because those close to him or with family backgrounds had been rejected. The meeting approved them silently; no one raised any questions,' the leader told Ratopati.

He believes that while there is no rift between Balen and Rabi in running the government and party yet, their working styles are not in sync. He complained that although it was said that Rabi would not appoint close associates or relatives to state positions, his file-bearers, business partners, and Galaxy Television colleagues are the ones receiving opportunities.

'Rabi-ji said he chose based on performance and experience, not close associates or relatives. Isn't Pratibha Rawal the person who carries his files? Isn't Krantishikha a colleague from Galaxy TV? Isn't Ganesh Parajuli a business partner?', the leader said, questioning the leadership. 'He brought the names from his coat pocket. There is no discussion within the party. If that is the case, he should just dissolve the organization! There is a lot of suffocation within the organization. I don't know when it will explode.'

The leader also complained that priority is being given to recent entrants while honest, capable, and experienced individuals who have supported the party since its inception are being sidelined.

In the RSP parliamentary party, Balen is the party leader, and Ganesh Parajuli is the deputy leader. Parajuli, who is close to Rabi, wanted to become the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. However, Balen proposed Dr. Amresh Kumar Singh. After Singh refused to become Industry Minister, the Prime Minister kept the portfolio himself for some time. When the cabinet was expanded for the second time on Chait 24, Gauri Kumari Yadav was given the responsibility. Yadav is close to Balen.

The party's chief whip position went to Kavindra Burlakoti, who is close to Rabi. Burlakoti is the party's General Secretary. Prakash Chandra Pariyar and Krantishikha Dhital were appointed as whips. Pariyar came from Bibeksheel Sajha. Dhital is a colleague of Rabi from the operation of Galaxy 4K Television.

Pratibha Rawal has become the Minister of Federal Affairs and General Administration, Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation. Rabi had praised Pratibha by name at an election rally in Chitwan. It is said that there is a 50/50 power-sharing agreement between Rabi and Balen in the government.

Is Balen Dominant?

Analysts have begun to suggest that a power struggle is quietly growing as Prime Minister Balen has recently started to dominate both the government and parliament. According to an analyst close to the RSP, the friction between Rabi and Balen is due to a lack of experience in running the state. He believes the problems stem from their different backgrounds, temperaments, and working styles.

'Balen-ji has an introverted nature. Rabi is extroverted. Neither of them has political experience. You cannot run a government and a party without political experience. One can lead only after being seasoned by experience. Rabi and Balen are just learning. It is natural for there to be a lack of coordination between the party and government in the initial stages,' he said.

Another RSP leader says that while it is natural for the Prime Minister to intervene in the selection of ministers, it is not appropriate to intervene in parliament. Leaders who have contributed since the party's inception, such as Joint General Secretary Bipin Kumar Acharya and Treasurer Lima Adhikari, have not received opportunities. Spokesperson Manish Jha, who was seen as an aspirant for the Information and Communications Minister, is also dissatisfied.

Joint General Secretary Acharya clarified that he would rather contribute to the party than hold any state position at this time. However, Acharya insisted that no dissatisfaction has come through official channels within the party. He asserted that the central committee and parliamentary party gave the leadership the authority to select government ministers, party officials, and parliamentary committee chairs. He stated that he has always been firm that the party should run according to rules and systems.

'Since we gave the leadership the authority to decide at that time, there is no point in complaining now,' Acharya said. 'I have been saying from the beginning that the party decision-making process should be collective, based on rules and methods. I am in favor of contributing by staying in the party rather than holding any state position.'

Acharya insisted that there is no situation of discord between Chairman Rabi and Prime Minister Balen as discussed outside. He said that negative things are coming out because people think that since power struggles are happening in old parties, the same might be happening in the RSP.

'The relationship between Rabi and Balen was established at a point according to the demands of the general public. The relationship was established with the aim of replacing old politics and establishing alternative politics. Some differences may arise while working. Negative perceptions have been brought out by looking at old parties and wondering if the same happened between the two leaders. It does not appear so in practice,' said Acharya.

Treasurer Lima Adhikari also said that although she wanted to work as the chair of the parliamentary Finance or Industry Committee, she would work by staying in the party due to the compulsion to include all sides. 'It is natural to aspire to contribute by becoming a parliamentary committee chair since my subject is related to finance or industry. But no offer came from the leadership level, and there is a compulsion to balance all sides. Since we also have to hold a general convention, I am in favor of contributing by staying in the party for now,' she said.