Rastriya Swatantra Party Expels Bara District Chairman Chandan Swarnakar

Bara. Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Bara district chairman Chandan Swarnakar has been expelled from the party, removing him even as a general member. He has been working as the Bara district chairman since August 15, 2022, and says he will not leave the party under any circumstances and will continue to agitate. The four Members of Parliament elected from Bara to the House of Representatives were recently chased away from the expanded district meeting held on May 25 due to disputes with him and other local leaders and cadres. Swarnakar spoke to Ratopati about the incident, the internal party conflict, and the government's working style. Here is the edited excerpt of the conversation with him.

When did your political journey in RSP begin?

After completing my postgraduate studies in Economics, I worked at the casino in Hotel Yak & Yeti in Kathmandu. In the local level elections of 2022, my father was a candidate, so I had to leave my job and return home.

In the 2022 elections, I saw other parties selling tickets. I didn't like such politics. On June 22, 2022, preparations were made to establish the Rastriya Swatantra Party. It was registered in the Election Commission on July 12, 2022. After registration with the commission, I spoke with Rabi Lamichhane through Mamata Sharma and Deepak Bohora.

Then, on September 14, 2022, we organized a district gathering in Bara with Rabi Lamichhane, the first time for Madhesh Province. At that district gathering, even though I said I wouldn't take any position, Rabi Lamichhane and Mamata Sharma entrusted me with the responsibility of leading Bara district.

Since taking responsibility, I have been working honestly for the benefit of the party organization. After the 2022 elections, there was no significant contact from the center for a long time. Some information would come on WhatsApp.

We only contacted Mamata Sharma as needed. From that time until now, we have been expanding party campaigns and organizations in the district.

In the House of Representatives elections on November 20, 2022, candidates were fielded in 3 out of Bara's 4 constituencies under my leadership.

In that election, among the 32 constituencies in Madhesh, Bara Constituency No. 4 secured the highest votes, followed by Bara 3, and then Bara 1.

In the proportional representation category as well, Bara district received the most votes in Madhesh Province. In the November 2022 elections, Bara district received an equal number of proportional votes as the entire Karnali Province among the 7 provinces nationwide.

Later, after Ram Sahay Yadav, elected from Bara-2, became the Vice President, a by-election was scheduled for that constituency on April 22, 2023. I myself was an aspirant for the candidacy in the by-election, but the party decided to field me in the local elections and proposed Ramesh Kharel, whom I supported.

Later, Ramesh Kharel left RSP, but we continuously worked to preserve the party organization and form committees in all municipalities and wards.

Even today, Bara district has the most extensive municipal and ward organizations of RSP in the entire Madhesh Province.

As the founding chairman of RSP in Bara, why didn't you get a ticket in the House of Representatives elections held on February 13?

In the House of Representatives elections after the Janji movement, there was a search for strong candidates within the party to win all 4 constituencies of Bara. While the candidates for constituencies 1, 2, and 3 of Bara were not finalized, Ichha Wagle was recommended for constituency 4 as she was a party member.

We took Wagle to the central office, met with leadership including DP Aryal, Manish Jha, Hari Dhakal, Ganesh Parajuli, Mukul Dhakal, and Mamata Sharma, finalized her candidacy, and returned.

However, later, some individuals from Jitpursimra Sub-Metropolis protested and put forward Shaligram Adhikari. Ichha Wagle's name was withdrawn. In the proportional representation category for Madhesh Province, Mamata Sharma's name was at number 3. She was asked to withdraw her name to be nominated as a candidate for Bara-2 in the direct election, but in the end, her candidacy was revoked from both proportional and direct elections.

None of those who applied by paying the party's procedural fee of Rs 25,000 became candidates. All tickets were sold from Janakpur. This incident marked the beginning of conflict and discord within the party. Mamata Sharma fought until the last moment. Frustrated by her inability to secure a position, she left the party.

What is the status of your demand for the refund of the Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 submitted by the proportional and direct candidates?

We are raising our voice demanding the refund of the amount submitted by the candidates. In Bara district, Mamata Sharma submitted Rs 50,000 for proportional representation, and 22 of us, including myself, submitted Rs 25,000 each for direct election application fees. Our demand is that this amount be refunded.

The center played a game of selling tickets from Janakpur without coordinating with the founding members, asking interested candidates to apply, which was wrong. Nevertheless, as responsible members of the party, we worked to ensure the victory of the candidates. We ensured the victory of the candidates in all 4 constituencies.

What is the reason for the federal MPs from all four constituencies of Bara turning against you?

After the elections, founding members started demanding an impartial investigation into the procedural errors within the party during internal party meetings. Following this, the MPs from all four constituencies of Bara, at the behest of those who sold tickets, filed a complaint with the central organization department seeking the cancellation of my membership, accusing me of financial irregularities, supporting candidates from other political parties in the election, and not mobilizing party workers. A complaint was filed against me in the central organization department on March 30, 2025.

In a party meeting, we exposed the candidate Chandan Singh in Bara Constituency No. 2. We pressured for the refund of the Rs 25,000 each submitted by the candidates for application forms. We protested, stating that the party had defrauded people in the name of filling forms. We demanded that the RSP party implement its own rules and regulations.

Can the party now say it will not follow the procedures it itself has established? I raised this issue in internal party meetings and also made a written request to the central office.

The honorable members from all four constituencies of Bara had already sold party tickets for municipal and ward elections in February, promising to give them. They collected money from many people, saying, 'Give Rs 2 lakh, Rs 5 lakh, Rs 10 lakh, and I will give you a ward ticket.' Tickets for many wards have already been sold. I have proof.

After I raised this issue within the party organization, I was deliberately framed and an attempt was made to expel me from the party. The MPs' intention is to capture RSP Bara after expelling me from the party.

What led to the federal MPs having to flee the RSP Bara district expanded meeting?

The RSP central organization sent the controversial figure Kamini Chaudhary, a proportional representative MP, from Mahottari to Bara, orchestrating a conspiracy. What is the reason for sending someone who was previously disciplined on December 26, 2024, for failing to conduct a fair election? Another issue is that the MPs brought hundreds of hired thugs to the program.

During the program, municipal chairmen demanded proof regarding the financial allegations against me, which led to the dispute. As the situation escalated with beatings and clashes instigated by the individuals brought by the MPs, the true founding party workers of Bara chased the MPs away from the program venue.

What will happen now in Bara RSP?

Now, the founding members are raising the issue that there should be an impartial convention. However, the MPs have been staying in luxury hotels and secretly coordinating with businessmen and leaders and cadres of the JSP and Lospa parties. They have formed committees by including individuals expelled from old parties.

Nothing is happening transparently. RSP has created a procedure for ward and municipal conventions. Our demand is that it should be conducted according to that procedure, but the committee led by Kamini Chaudhary has not been working in a lawful manner.

If this approach of steamrolling continues, the founding members will boycott. If necessary, we will be forced to form parallel committees at the district level and move forward.

We are launching a signature campaign with the majority of friends for the 'Right to Recall' as provisioned in Article 69 of the RSP Constitution 2079, Third Amendment 2081.

How do you view the role played by the federal MPs elected from Bara in the parliament?

The elected MPs have not raised issues concerning their constituencies in the parliament. They should have raised issues of development. They have done nothing but stunts on Facebook and TikTok.

Everyone has given speeches; now it's time to work. In Bara district, there are 5 small customs offices: Karchowa, Piparpati, Matiherwa, Simraungadh, and Kabhahi. Get at least one of these 5 customs offices operational.

Instead of raising such public issues, the MPs have adopted wrong practices focused on capturing the organization. Because of this, we are now moving towards the 'Right to Recall'.

We will organize programs in every neighborhood and public square of the wards and call for the 'Right to Recall'. We will submit the signatures of more than 50 percent of the members in writing to the provincial and central committees. Then we will ask – will the recall happen according to the constitution or not?

Are the old founding members within RSP being neglected by the party?

Founding members who work on the ground are being neglected by the center. Friends who do not go to Kathmandu, do not flatter leaders, do not post photos on social media, and do not provide seasonal fruits, yogurt, and ghee to the MPs are being systematically expelled from the party through disciplinary action.

How do you view the democratic practice within the party?

RSP has made a mockery of democratic practice. When individuals within the party exercise their democratic right to express themselves, they are expelled from the party with the stick of discipline. What kind of democratic practice is the party engaging in?

RSP itself is not adhering to the procedures and regulations it has established. It has created a procedure for municipal and ward conventions, which requires applications to be opened 5 days in advance, but where are the applications? Applications should be sought from interested individuals. Selecting committees in closed rooms in an authoritarian manner without seeking applications and then calling it democratic practice? This does not suit RSP. The honorable members from all four constituencies of Bara have disregarded the procedures and regulations and have formed committees only in secret and on paper, including their favored individuals.

Why was the responsibility for expanding the organization in Bara district given to a person from Mahottari?

There are capable individuals within Bara for expanding the district organization. If they had been given the responsibility, it would have been impartial.

The reason for giving it to Mahottari is a planned move to establish individuals from Mahottari, Dhanusha, Saptari, and Siraha in the upcoming provincial committee elections and to prevent individuals from Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, and Sarlahi from doing so.

In the structure of Madhesh Province, individuals from Saptari, Siraha, and Dhanusha have always been dominant; are individuals from Bara, Parsa, and Rautahat not capable?

After being expelled from the party, even as a general member, what is your role within the party now?

We continue to raise our voices within the party's internal forums. I have been expelled by the party. Technically, my name has been removed from the rolls, but I have the support, cooperation, and affection of the district residents.

We built the organization in Bara district. We are not in a state of mind to leave this house. We will struggle here until our last breath within our capabilities.

We demand that the procedures and regulations be implemented. If we are not successful even in the end, the friends will sit together, formulate further strategies, and move forward.

How do you view the working style of the current government led by Balen Shah?

The government led by Balen, formed based on the trust of all Nepalis after the Janji movement, has been doing good work. This government should be allowed to work. The matter of returning funds to cooperative victims using state money is somewhat wrong. We believe it should be raised from the management committee and returned. Secondly, it is necessary to maintain cordial international relations.