Rastriya Prajatantra Party Central Committee Meeting Begins Amidst Controversy

Kathmandu. The central committee meeting of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) is starting from Friday in Kathmandu.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 11:30 AM at Surya Catering in Dhumbaraahi. However, there is a dispute within the party regarding the agenda of the meeting. 

A faction within the party is preparing to boycott the meeting, alleging that Chairman Rajendra Lingden has invited 'unauthorized' individuals to the meeting against the party's constitution. 

The dispute arose because all individuals who were candidates in the elections held on February 21 are being invited to the meeting. Similarly, 65 individuals from Kamal Thapa's faction, who came through the unification process, are also being invited. The dissatisfied faction states that including individuals other than central committee members in the central committee meeting is against universal principles and practices. 

In the working executive committee meeting held on Thursday, Vice Chairman Vikram Pandey, General Secretary Kunti Shahi, Member Arjun Rai, and former Chairmen Kamal Thapa, Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani, and Pashupati Shamsher Rana had drawn Chairman Lingden's attention to this issue. They insisted that no one other than central committee members should be included in the meeting.

Central member Janakraj Pathak stated that leaders like him who stand for the rule of law would not participate in today's meeting. The elected central member said on Friday morning, 'The situation is such that I cannot participate because unauthorized individuals are being brought into the central committee meeting. I have already informed the Chairman, General Secretary, and Head of the Secretariat about this.'

Some leaders within the party have commented that Chairman Lingden is adopting a strategy to save face by allowing individuals who are not even central members into the meeting. 

Except for Gyanendra Shahi winning from Jumla in the last election, the security deposit of RPP candidates was forfeited in most other places. The dissatisfied faction believes that the Chairman, fearing criticism in the central committee, is trying to secure himself by using his supporters and election-defeated candidates.

Meanwhile, the working executive committee meeting held on Thursday approved the schedule for the upcoming general convention. Accordingly, the RPP's general convention will be held in Kathmandu on December 11, 12, and 13. Chairman Lingden stated that the meeting also approved the rules and directives presented by the election committee with amendments. 

General Secretary Dhawalshamsher Rana said that although this meeting is being held after RPP left, the dispute remains.