Rastriya Swatantra Party Finalizes Provincial Convention Procedures

Kathmandu. Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has prepared the 'Provincial Convention Procedure, 2083' in accordance with Article 31 of the Constitution 2079 (including third amendment 2081).

The procedure has been prepared to complete the convention in a fair, fraud-free, and cordial environment within the party's rules, systems, and democratic process, informed Election Commission Chief Bhuvan KC.

The procedure, approved by the party's secretariat meeting held on Jestha 18, specifies the method for selecting provincial convention representatives.

RSP's provincial conventions are scheduled for Jestha 26 in Bagmati Province, 27 in Koshi Province, 28 in Madhesh Province, 29 in Gandaki Province, 30 in Lumbini Province, 31 in Karnali Province, and Ashadh 1 in Sudurpashchim Province. For this, the Election Commission has assigned five members to five provinces to coordinate, facilitate the convention, and form provincial election commissions. KC informed that representatives for the remaining Karnali and Sudurpashchim provinces will be sent by this evening. He mentioned that there might be some amendments to the pre-determined convention schedule.

'Some amendments may be made within the framework of the constitution convention procedure and provincial convention schedule. We will send representatives to the remaining provinces by this evening,' KC said. The procedure states that the convention organizing committee must select provincial convention representatives and provide the list of representatives to the election committee at least 3 days in advance.

From the provincial convention, one chairman, one vice-chairman, one general secretary, one joint general secretary (including different gender), one treasurer, and one spokesperson will be elected.

• This is the method for provincial representatives and selection:

1. All Provincial Committee Office Bearers and Members

All office bearers and members of the provincial committee updated on the party's central portal as of the date of formation of the convention organizing committee will be representatives of the convention.

2. All Office Bearers and Members of the Provincial Advisory Council

All members of the Provincial Advisory Council nominated 15 days prior to the decision date of the Provincial Convention and updated on the party's central portal will be representatives of the convention. Thereafter, the organizing committee may appoint members approved by the provincial committee as observers of the convention.

3. All Office Bearers and Members of the Provincial Disciplinary Commission and Provincial Audit Commission

Members of the Provincial Disciplinary Commission and Audit Commission nominated 15 days prior to the decision date of the Provincial Convention and updated on the party's central portal will be representatives of the convention. Thereafter, the organizing committee may appoint members approved by the provincial committee as observers of the convention.

4. 9 People Including the Head of the Provincial Department (to be selected by the department with at least 33 percent women)

The department head nominated 15 days prior to the decision date of the Provincial Convention and updated on the party's central portal, along with a total of 9 people including at least 3 women, will be representatives of the convention.

5. 7 People Including the Head of the Provincial Liaison Department (to be selected by the department with at least 2 women)

The liaison department head nominated 15 days prior to the decision date of the Provincial Convention and updated on the party's central portal, along with a total of 7 people including at least 2 women decided by the department and sent to the organizing committee, will be representatives of the convention.

6. All District Committee Office Bearers and Members

All office bearers and members of the district committees updated on the party's central portal after the convention will be convention representatives.

Office bearers (chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, joint secretary, and treasurer) of ad-hoc district committees that are updated on the party's central portal but have not yet held conventions will be convention representatives.

Those district committee office bearers who did not participate in the district committee election before the district convention and have applied to participate in the provincial convention will be convention representatives. Such applications must be submitted to the district chairman and provincial chairman or their designated representative.

7. Office Bearers of the District Disciplinary Commission and District Organization Department

Office bearers of the District Disciplinary Commission and District Organization Department nominated 15 days prior to the decision date of the Provincial Convention and updated on the party's central portal will be representatives of the convention.

8. 3 People Including the Head of the District Liaison Department and District Youth Association (to be selected by the department with 1 woman)

The head of the district liaison department and youth association nominated 15 days prior to the decision date of the Provincial Convention and updated on the party's central portal, along with a total of 3 people including at least 1 woman decided by the department or youth association and provided to the organizing committee, will be representatives of the convention.

9. All Constituency Coordinators and Deputy Coordinators

Coordinators and deputy coordinators of the constituency committees updated on the party's central portal as of the date of formation of the convention organizing committee will be representatives of the convention.

10. Palika Chairman or 1 Person from the Committee Designated by the Committee if the Chairman Cannot Attend

Palika chairmen of updated Palikas or 1 person from the committee designated by the committee if the chairman cannot attend will be convention representatives.

An ad-hoc Palika committee chairman whose Palika has been updated but has not yet held a convention cannot designate another representative if unable to attend.

11. All Members of the Provincial Assembly Elected or Adjusted from the Party and Palika Chiefs and Deputy Chiefs

All federal parliament members, provincial assembly members, and Palika chiefs and deputy chiefs elected or adjusted from within the province on behalf of the party will be provincial convention representatives.

12. All Representatives to the Central Committee from the Province and Office Bearers Representing the Province in Central Departments

Office bearers and members representing the party in higher echelons of the party, updated on the party's central portal from the respective province, will be representatives of the provincial convention in that province.

13. Representatives Selected by the Palika Convention

(1 person from a rural municipality with more than 151 party members, 2 people from a municipality with more than 301 party members, 3 people from a sub-metropolitan city with more than 401 party members, and 4 people from a metropolitan city with more than 501 party members), all representatives selected and sent by the Palika convention will be representatives. Representatives selected after Jestha 18, 2083, must include at least 33 percent women.

14. Party Adjustment Representatives

Representatives from the adjustment process decided based on the party central committee's directive after completing the prescribed procedures (number to be decided based on the decision).

Further Clarification Regarding Representative Selection:

(1) Members facing disciplinary action or removed from responsibility due to disciplinary violations, or members suspended for disciplinary investigation, will not be eligible to be convention representatives.

(2) If representatives cannot be selected at the Palika convention based on the party's membership numbers, or if selected representatives resign for various reasons, the Palika committee will decide and send representatives to the provincial convention. The Palika committee must have selected and submitted the representatives to the convention organizing committee within the stipulated time.

Method of Selecting Representatives:

(a) The Palika committee will call for applications from party members eligible to be provincial convention representatives, providing at least 3 days' notice.

(b) The Palika committee will convene a meeting, review the received applications, and select the representatives.

(c) The selected representatives will be updated on the central portal through the District/Provincial Organization Department.

(2) After the Provincial Committee forms the Provincial Convention Organizing Committee and issues the convention notice, no new representatives can be appointed to fill vacant positions in the Provincial Committee, Constituency Committee, and Palika Committee under the vacancy filling procedure.

(3) All representatives attending the provincial convention must have compulsorily paid the levy at the designated level. No one who has not paid the levy at the relevant party level or for whom a decision to waive the levy has not been made can be a convention representative.