Rastriya Swatantra Party Elects New Leadership in Far-Western Region

Dhangadhi. The Far-Western Region convention of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has selected a new leadership. The convention held in Dhangadhi has re-entrusted Engineer Prakash Bist with the responsibility of Provincial President.

All office bearers except the president have been selected unanimously. Engineer Prakash Bist has received the responsibility of provincial leadership by defeating Member of Parliament Janak Singh Dhami.

From the provincial convention, Vice President Bhojraj Joshi, General Secretary Santosh Joshi, Joint General Secretaries Jasu Bhatta and Paras Bahun, Spokesperson Tej Thakulla, and Treasurer Ganesh Bohara were elected unopposed.

Among the elected office bearers, Joint General Secretary Paras Bahun was previously in the role of Provincial General Secretary. Although he was removed from responsibility last time due to allegations of factionalism within the party, he has returned to leadership this time.

According to the RSP's constitution, the convention first selected 16 geographical and 15 open and inclusive members. The office bearers have been selected from among these members.

Newly elected Vice President Bhojraj Joshi stated that the background of RSP's rise in the Far-West is very interesting. He said that after Gopal Hamal won the mayoral election as an independent candidate in Dhangadhi, a foundation for alternative politics was laid in this region.

At that time, Joshi and his group, who were active in the campaign to get independent candidates elected in all nine districts through an organization called Public Power, had initially planned to form a separate regional party.

When Rabi Lamichhane announced the Rastriya Swatantra Party around the same time, they decided it was appropriate to join a national platform instead of a regional force and merged with RSP.

The formal political journey of RSP in this province began with the first program held at Om Palace in Dhangadhi. During the 2079 elections, RSP struggled to find candidates in the Far-West. However, RSP has made significant progress here in a short period.

According to Party President Prakash Bist, when he first became president in Magh 2079, the party's structure was very limited. Currently, the number of organized members of the party in the province has exceeded 38,000.
The party has expanded its structure in 84 out of 88 local levels in the Far-West. RSP has focused its special attention on the 8 constituencies in Kailali and Kanchanpur.

Bist claimed that about 300,000 people from the Far-West alone signed the signature collection campaign conducted under the slogan that the state is taking revenge on party president Rabi Lamichhane. He argued that this number is comparable to the proportional votes received by old parties.

RSP seeks to identify itself not just as a party of the elite but also as a party of the working class. One example of this is Binod Bist from Baitadi, who lives in Hyderabad, India. After overcoming death during the Corona period and dedicating himself to social service, he operated an ambulance in Shivnath, Baitadi, at his own expense. He expanded RSP's influence by bringing together 60-70 Nepali workers living abroad into the party simultaneously.
'Our party doesn't just have engineers and pilots, but also working-class people like me,' said Bist.

The organization has yet to reach some wards in the remote hilly districts of the Far-West, namely Bajura, Bajhang, and Darchula. Geographical remoteness, lack of internet, and the emigration of youth have become major challenges for organizational expansion.

The new executive committee aims to expand the organization to these remaining remote areas and every neighborhood in the coming term. General Secretary Santosh Joshi pledged to improve past weaknesses and move forward together, not by force.

President Bist stated that the plan is to make RSP the leading force in the Far-West in the upcoming elections and to work towards solving the common problems of the people at a policy level.