Rabi Lamichhane's India Visit Sparks Internal Party Debate
Kathmandu. A stir has been created within the ruling National Independent Party (NIP) over the issue of party chairman Rabi Lamichhane going on a visit to India. A stir has been created in NIP after information surfaced that Lamichhane would depart for New Delhi on Jestha 18.
According to sources, the party itself is unaware of Chairman Lamichhane going on a visit to India. It is understood that there has been no discussion about this with senior leader and Prime Minister Balendra (Balen) Shah.
‘The party has no information about the party chairman going on a visit to India. It does not seem that there has been any discussion with Prime Minister Balen, who is a senior leader. The central committee itself must decide on the matter of the visit,’ said the source.
Information had surfaced that Lamichhane was about to embark on a two-day visit at the invitation of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. It was understood that during the visit, Lamichhane was scheduled to hold high-level meetings including with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. It was rumored that along with NIP Chairman Lamichhane, Joint General Secretary Bipin Kumar Acharya and Secretariat Member and Head of the Diaspora Department Deepakraj Bohara would also go on the visit.
At a time when relations between India and Nepal have been strained recently, Lamichhane's visit was being watched with interest in diplomatic circles. The Nepali government had sent diplomatic notes to India and China regarding the agreement between China and India to open trade through Lipulek, which was made public through the media. At a time when Indian External Affairs Minister Vikram Misri's visit to Nepal was postponed due to border disputes, the visit of Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal to India was also postponed.
Although Prime Minister Balen has accepted the invitation to visit India, it is uncertain whether he will go on the visit.
Regarding this matter, government spokesperson Sasmit Pokharel clarified that since the party chairman is going on his own, it cannot be linked to the Prime Minister's visit. He clarified on Monday while releasing the cabinet's decisions that NIP Chairman Rabi Lamichhane is going on the visit on his own and linking it to the government's official visit would be wrong.
‘The chairman is going in his own way. It can be linked to the Prime Minister's visit, but it has no relation,’ Pokharel had said.
Due to the potential for controversy within the party because of the India visit,
It is understood that Lamichhane held discussions with experts in the diplomatic field only on Tuesday morning. Sources claim that diplomatic experts have cautioned that a party chairman, who is leading the government, going on a visit without a clear agenda could put both the country and the party in a difficult situation.
‘Not only the party chairman, but even when a member of parliament goes on a foreign visit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be informed. According to the party's regulations, if the chairman or other office bearers are going on a foreign visit, the central committee must make a decision,’ said the source. ‘If it is an official visit, there is a provision to inform the party officially, and if it is unofficial, unofficially. Regarding the visit, Rabi had discussions with personalities from the diplomatic field in the morning.’
There are voices within the party that the visit should not be undertaken without preparation, at a time when there are serious disputes with neighboring India over issues such as Kalapani, Susta, Pancheshwar project, and Lumbini airport.
‘There is a serious border dispute with neighboring India. If the chairman of the ruling party embarks on a visit without preparation, it could cause significant problems for the party and the country,’ said the source. ‘A visit in the current situation seems problematic. Not going also seems problematic. Who will go to India? What agenda will be taken? What if a serious proposal is brought up during the visit? One must not go without preparation for such matters.’
The source also stated that it is not certain whether Chairman Lamichhane will go on the India visit as the party has not made a decision.
The NIP became a powerful party due to the strength of the Gen Z movement in Bhadra last year and the popularity of Rabi and Balen among the general public. However, it is discussed in diplomatic circles that relations with neighbors have deteriorated due to Prime Minister Balen's immature diplomatic capacity at a time when the country is in a complex geopolitical situation.
This specific news has been automatically translated by AI. As a result, there may be some inaccuracies or language errors.
