RPP on the Brink: General Secretary Dhabal Shumsher Rana Demands Leadership Accountability and Convention

Kathmandu. Leaders and cadres of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) have begun to openly discuss the party being on the verge of a split. Ratopati held an extensive interview with RPP General Secretary Dr. Dhabal Shumsher Rana regarding questions such as who is behind the potential division, how and under whose leadership a new party might be formed, the nature of the internal dissatisfaction, and whether the party president alone should bear responsibility for the election defeat. (The full interview can be viewed and heard in the video).

Your group is raising questions about the working style of RPP President Rajendra Lingden, why?

What can I say now? It was my position that we should not have participated in the election. The President said, 'I will make it the number one party' and 'I will bring unimaginable results.' We went into the election without any preparation or organizational structure, and as a result, 97 percent of our candidates lost their deposits. Such a shameful situation had never occurred in the history of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party. After 97 percent of the party's candidates lose their deposits, there should be some morality, right?

What exactly is your demand?

We have only one demand and one desire. The time for our general convention had already arrived when the question of whether the election would happen or not was being raised. The tenure had expired. The tenure of all of us in the central committee has ended. Since we were going to the election, we extended the time by six months, with the agreement to hold the convention in Jestha. Our point is that this decision must be implemented.

Is the demand that the convention must be held in Jestha?

That is all. Let us set a date for the convention and proceed. What is done is done. We cannot reverse the past situation. This shameful situation is one that RPP has never faced before. It is becoming difficult for workers to stay within the RPP. Many people are in the mindset of leaving the party, and some are already leaving. To stop all this, let us change the leadership and move forward. For that, let us allow the workers to exercise their voting rights.

Whether we change the leadership or not, let us hold the convention. If it brings change, that is fine; if not, that is also fine. Even if he comes back, it would be acceptable to you, right?

Absolutely. There is no question of not accepting the mandate of the workers. But they are not doing it; they keep delaying the convention.

Is there a demand that the President should take moral responsibility and resign for the shameful defeat of the party in the election?

We have not demanded a resignation. Whether to resign or not is a matter of his morality. There is no point in us saying that. It is a matter he should consider himself.

When should the convention be held according to your demand?

The central committee and the performance committee have decided to hold the convention in Jestha. That decision must be implemented.

You criticize the President's working style, but your goal is to form a new party, isn't it?

If we wanted to form a new party, we would have done it already. Why would we be pursuing the convention? If they are not going to hold the convention and keep postponing it for a year or a year and a half, saying 'local elections are coming' or 'the monsoon is coming,' then the workers cannot stay here.

If there is no intention to form a new party, why the repeated meetings with Keshar Bahadur Bista and Durga Prasai?

From the beginning, we have been saying that individuals, parties, and groups with the same ideology should come together. Our view is that everyone who aligns with our agenda should unite. It is not just now; I have always met them with the mindset that those who agree with this agenda should discuss and come together. I also attend programs of royalists and nationalists. Even if no one else goes where I am invited, I go and give a speech. Even if it is a small group, at least they are keeping this agenda alive.

What is being discussed in the meetings with Durga Prasai? Are you saying let's form a new party? Are you asking them to join RPP?

The discussion so far is that if we can all come together, let us sit in one place, otherwise let us collaborate. That is the case with everyone so far.

Is what you want a distribution of posts or policy reform in the party?

Rather than policy, the agenda of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party is the same. There is no difference in our agenda. After the defeat, the party could not move forward smoothly. It was a shameful situation. My point is that the party cannot move forward under this leadership in this situation. Now, it is a matter of how the workers take this. The general convention is the highest body among the workers. It has been six months since the tenure expired. We must go to the convention immediately. If there is an attempt to avoid or push back this convention, there is a possibility of a unfortunate accident.

Is it enough for President Rajendra Lingden alone to take responsibility for the party's defeat in the election? Shouldn't all office bearers take it?

Everyone has a share. I am also an elected General Secretary. I might have some responsibility as well. Maybe a certain percentage. But in any organization, 80 to 90 percent of the success or failure lies with the leadership. The primary leadership bears the responsibility for all successes and failures.

Why did the party suffer such a defeat in the election?

It happened because our leadership moved forward with unilateral decisions. Not taking suggestions, not taking advice, and doing whatever he feels like?

Has the President said he won't hold the convention?

Saying he will do it is not enough; he has to clear the path.

What needs to be done to clear it?

District conventions are yet to be held. There are many processes left.

There is talk of holding the convention in Mangsir.

Then the local body elections will come. And under the pretext of local bodies, the convention will be postponed again. The convention that was supposed to be held in Chaitra was also postponed under the pretext of national elections.

Do you have a desire to become the President yourself through the convention?

If the workers choose me, I will become. I am not a person who backs down.

Will you go into competition?

If the convention happens, I will go into competition. I don't think anything will happen without becoming the President myself.

You are an elected General Secretary. Instead of sitting with the President to resolve these internal party matters, how is meeting and gathering people to weaken the party's internal democracy consistent with party procedures?

It is not that I haven't tried to resolve internal problems. I have been to the President's house six times. When I said, 'Don't do this, let's work together. Listen to everyone,' he just nodded, did the opposite, and didn't listen. Just recently, we five General Secretaries sat down and said, 'The party cannot run, the situation is critical, let's give some suggestions to the President, let's go to the convention, this is not working,' and when we asked for time with the President, he did not pick up my phone. He did not call back.

If you prepare extensively for 5-6 months and hold the convention by Mangsir, will it really fall apart that much?

The local body elections will be right on our heads. And under the pretext of local bodies, the convention will be postponed again.

Why is the President not agreeing to hold the convention? What is your understanding?

You should ask him that. If I were in such a shameful situation, I would have resigned the next day.

You have asked to set a date for the convention within a week. That ends on Sunday. He has already said he will not do that. He has said the demand will not be met. What will you do now?

He hasn't told us. I haven't heard it either. If you say it has come out publicly, then we are going to seek help from our guardians. We are going to seek help from people like Pashupati Shumsher, Dr. Lohani, Kamal Dai, Hari Bahadur Dai, Navaraj Ji.

Did you also seek help from the former King?

The party has no concern with the King; we will not involve the King in this.

What did you say to the guardians?

You must save this party. If the convention is not held, this party will not remain united. I don't see a situation where it can remain united.

Will you form another party? Or will you take action against President Lingden?

We will not do such things. Taking action is their job.

Can it be said that if the demands are not met by Sunday, the party will not remain united?

We have given an ultimatum. After that, the colleagues will sit down. Whatever the colleagues decide, I will have to do the same.

Does that mean a new party will be formed?

Whatever the colleagues say, that is what I will do.

There is talk that another party led by Dhabal Shumsher Rana will be formed. That is why I asked.

People say many things. But we have not reached that situation yet. We are trying to hold the convention of this party.

What do you say to the leaders, workers, and well-wishers who are worried that the party might split?

What I say to the workers is that you also need to put pressure. The party should not be allowed to split. The convention must be held on time, in Jestha. If the convention is not held indefinitely, the party will not find candidates for the local bodies. I have received news that workers from my own district are going to the 'Bell' (RPP's election symbol). The ward chairs who win are leaving. Others are also leaving. The party is in such a situation. Even now, if we do not provide a way out for the party and move forward by understanding the workers' hearts, this party will be finished.