Rastriya Swatantra Party Provincial Conventions Affected by Internal Disputes

Kathmandu. The provincial convention of the ruling party, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), has been affected. The postponement of the RSP's provincial convention, which is preparing for its general convention, has added to the concern about whether the schedule of the general convention itself will be affected.

The central committee meeting held on Jestha 30 had decided to complete the district conventions on Jestha 23 and 24, and the provincial conventions from Jestha 26 to Asar 1. Organization Department Secretary Shankar Shrestha informed that conventions have been completed in 65 districts and 540 local levels so far.

Shrestha asserted that a new leadership will be chosen by the 30th in Bagmati Province, which was postponed due to disputes. He stated that the convention in Madhesh Province, which is the most controversial, will also be completed within this month.

Shrestha claimed that the date of the general convention will not be affected due to the disputes in the provinces and districts.

'The date of the national general convention will not be affected due to the postponement of the district and provincial conventions. We will complete the conventions of all provinces by the first week of Asar,' he told Ratopati.

Shrestha argued that internal disputes are natural as the party is large. In Bagmati Province, the election process has been indefinitely postponed due to a clash of leadership. Dr. Achyutam Lamiichhane, the current chairman and member of the House of Representatives from Nuwakot-2, former spokesperson Utsav Aryal, Hari Bahadur Khatri, and Krishnama n Shrestha have filed their candidacies for the post of chairman.

The convention was affected due to the escalation of internal disputes in leadership selection. Bodhnarayan Shrestha, deputy chief of the Organization Department, asserted that the election in Bagmati was postponed due to technical errors rather than leadership disputes.

'Due to haste, some errors were seen in the printing of ballot papers. There were also problems with the voter list. Since it will take some time to correct the technical errors, the Election Commission has postponed the election process for some time,' said Deputy Chief Shrestha.

Due to the disputes, the convention representatives themselves have returned to their homes. He said that preparations are being made to call the representatives after the technical errors are corrected. A meeting of the chairmen of 13 districts of Bagmati was held on Wednesday to resolve the disputes. Shrestha informed that an agreement was reached to resolve the errors seen in each sector at the district level.

The provincial convention in Madhesh Province has been indefinitely postponed due to group interests and ethnic narrow-mindedness.

Bhuvan KC, chief of the RSP's Election Commission, stated that the election process has been temporarily suspended due to technical and managerial reasons.

'The election has been temporarily suspended due to disputes over ballot papers and voter lists, adjustment lists, and problems in committee management. With the intention of providing necessary convenient time for all the representatives who have returned due to confusion to participate in the voting process, the convention will resume once these technical and managerial tasks are completed,' said Chief KC.

The provincial convention in Madhesh Province has been indefinitely postponed due to group interests and ethnic narrow-mindedness. The commission had published a notice on Jestha 26 stating that all activities of the convention have been suspended. In Madhesh, 7 out of 8 districts except Parsa have had their conventions postponed.

Leaders at the district level accuse Manish Jha, the party's central spokesperson and Member of Parliament elected from Dhanusha-3, of being the main root of the dispute in Madhesh. A leader of RSP accused that the convention was postponed to make Jha's brother, Barun, the chairman.

'Manish Jha has been instigating conflicts among leaders. The convention has been postponed due to his intervention. There is also a lot of ethnic conflict here,' said Yadav.

'Manish Jha is the main leader who has disorganized the party organization in Madhesh. All the district chairmen here are dissatisfied with him. He wants to bring his own brother Barun as the chairman. But seeing that he will not get votes from Madhesh as the general convention is approaching, he got the convention postponed,' that leader told Ratopati.

Sundeshwar Yadav, head of the Madhesh Province Policy and Publicity Department, also accused Jha of causing the postponement of the convention.

'Manish Jha has been instigating conflicts among leaders. The convention has been postponed due to his intervention. There is also a lot of ethnic conflict here,' said Yadav.

Saptari District Chairman Dombar Narayan Shah Teli accused Ramji Yadav, Member of Parliament elected from Saptari-2 and the government's Labor Minister, and Shambhu Kumar Yadav, Member of Parliament elected from Sarlahi-3, of destroying the party organization due to their interests. Ramji and Shambhu are son-in-law and father-in-law by relation.

Siraha District Chairman Hari Prasad Mainali accused Tapeshwar Yadav, the current provincial chairman and Member of Parliament from Siraha-4, and Purushottam Yadav, a key leader and proportional representative MP, of causing the problem. He stated that the party should recall Purushottam Yadav according to 'Right to Recall'.

Meanwhile, in Koshi Province, Gom a Tamang, a candidate for provincial chairman, announced her departure from the party due to leadership disputes. She wrote on social media Facebook after being defeated in the internal election, 'I have quit politics from today. I express my heartfelt thanks to all the voters.'

With the proliferation of factions and sub-factions within the party, General Secretary Bhupdev Shah had said that the convention is not just for distributing positions but also requires reform.

She was defeated in the House of Representatives elections held in Falgun and also in the internal elections. She received only 141 votes out of a total of 490 votes cast. Chandra Bahadur Rai of Morang won by getting 280 votes. The convention in Koshi started on Wednesday. In the electoral competition, Tamang, Rai, along with Chandra Kumar Gouli (Niraj) from Jhapa and Dr. Khagendra Katuwal from Tehrathum were in the fray. Tamang had said that she would accept the results of fair competition but would not accept disgusting politics.

'I accept fair election results but I will not tolerate disgusting politics. Come, let's fight independently. But if any honorable person carries one person, Koshi Province will not accept it. This must be kept in mind,' she warned.

With the proliferation of factions and sub-factions within the party, General Secretary Bhupdev Shah had said that the convention is not just for distributing positions but also requires reform. Speaking at the first provincial convention, Shah said, 'Just as the party achieved success at the federal level, we must also achieve victory in all 137 local levels and provincial elections in Koshi Province. Such conventions are not just for distributing positions but require reform. Every member must be able to upgrade and reform themselves.'

Meanwhile, Central Chairman Rabi Lamichhane has expressed concern over the proliferation of factions and sub-factions within the party less than four years after its formation. On Jestha 23, the day of the district convention, Lamichhane said on social media Facebook, 'Our goal now is not just to become an alternative force, but to become a capable political force that leads the country. For that, we need to make the party broader, more inclusive, and stronger. However, we must abandon the narrow concern that I will not exist as the organization expands. When the party grows larger, the role of all of us becomes more meaningful.'

He emphasized that everyone must show patience, sacrifice, and dedication to fulfill the responsibility given by the era, expand the recent public mandate, and make politics cultured, transparent, and people-friendly. Lamichhane clarified that the tendency to expect promotion by considering temporary responsibilities as a permanent standard, stating that it is time to transform from 'I' to 'We', is not beneficial for party life.