Rastriya Swatantra Party Prioritizes Consensus in Leadership Selection for First General Convention

Kathmandu. The ruling party Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has prioritized the selection of leadership through consensus, keeping in mind the party's unity. The RSP, which became a large party after the merger of groups including Bibeksheel Sajha, Balen Group, Tharuwan/Tharuhath Group, and Genji Group, is holding its first general convention in Bharatpur, Chitwan, starting Sunday. Leaders have stated that prioritizing leadership selection through consensus is necessary to manage the groups that have joined the unification process. In a secretariat meeting held on Thursday, Chairman Rabi Lamichhane emphasized the need for leadership selection through consensus as there is still much work to be done. Secretariat member Ganesh Parajuli stated that the responsibility of bringing all sides together and selecting leadership through consensus has been given to Chairman Rabi Lamichhane and senior leader and Prime Minister Balendra (Balen) Shah. 'There is no Rabi group or Balen group within the party. We are all leaders and cadres in RSP. We are holding a historic general convention,' Parajuli told Ratopati. 'We have the important responsibility of including everyone who came from Bibeksheel Sajha, Genji, and the identity-based movement.' He stated that selecting leadership through consensus has been given the highest priority. He added that as it is a unification convention, both consensus and election processes can be advanced as needed. The secretariat meeting held on Thursday approved the proposal for a 158-member central committee (with 7 provincial ex-officio members). The 19-member executive body includes 1 chairman, 1 senior leader, 3 vice-chairmen, 2 general secretaries, 5 joint general secretaries, 1 spokesperson, 3 deputy spokespersons, and 1 treasurer and 1 deputy treasurer each. The secretariat has been made 33 members. The chairman has the provision to nominate 51 members. 100 members for the central committee will be elected. Leaders say preparations are underway to select them through consensus as much as possible. Parajuli clarified that the provision for 51 nominated members has been made to manage inclusive and unification-joined individuals in the election process. 'We need to ensure inclusive representation in the party. If we have to go through the election process, important individuals might be left out. The provision for 51 members to be nominated by the chairman has been made to manage this,' he said. General Secretary Bhupadev Shah also stated that leadership selection through consensus has been prioritized. He said that since many groups have come together to form RSP, leadership will be selected to ensure representation from all. However, Shah asserted that the provision for nominating office bearers has not been made in the statute. He informed that the central committee meeting to be held tomorrow will decide on this. 'There was a discussion about whether to keep some seats for nominated office bearers, but there is no such provision in the statute. The central committee will decide on this. As it is a unification convention, leadership selection will be through consensus,' Shah said. Secretariat member Parajuli stated that a provision can be made in the statute to nominate some positions in the executive body. He said, 'Some positions in the executive body can be nominated to manage some leaders.' Parajuli claimed that no one within the party is seeking an alternative to Rabi for the chairmanship. He warned that anyone creating room for factions within the party would end their political future. 'Looking at past political parties, it is clear that anyone who creates room for factions within Rastriya Swatantra Party will not have an easy political future,' he said. 'As far as the question of an alternative to leadership is concerned, no one in RSP has even imagined it. The Nepali people have not demanded it either.' It appears certain that Rabi will be re-elected as chairman from the general convention. Prime Minister Balen Shah will remain the senior leader. There are many aspirants for other positions. Among the three vice-chairmen, one woman is mandatory as per the statute. Dr. Swarnim Wagle is likely to be re-elected as vice-chairman. For another male vice-chairman, Ganesh Parajuli, Sunil Lamshal, Biraj Bhakta Shrestha, Shishir Khanal, Manish Jha, Hari Dhakal, among others, are strong contenders. Lamshal is from the Balen group. For one female vice-chairman, Samiksha Baskota, Pratibha Rawal, Sobita Gautam, Lima Adhikari, Dr. Tosima Karki, Kusum Shrestha, among others, are contenders. For the two general secretary positions, Kabindra Burla Koti and Bhupadev Shah are highly likely to be re-elected. However, if Ganesh Parajuli does not become a vice-chairman, he is likely to claim a general secretary position. Joint General Secretary Bipin Kumar Acharya is also a strong contender. One woman is mandatory among the five joint general secretaries. Although no one has openly expressed interest for this position yet, Deepak Bohara, Krantishikha Dhital, Sagar Dhakal, Basu Maya Tamang, Prakash Chandra Pariyar, among others, are being discussed. Apart from these, the statute has a provision for the chairman to nominate the spokesperson, deputy spokespersons, treasurer, and deputy treasurer. RSP has called a central committee meeting in Chitwan on Saturday before the general convention begins. The meeting will approve the general convention's working procedures and draft statute. Leaders have said that the meeting will make necessary decisions for the management and conduct of the general convention. The first phase of the general convention will involve the election of the chairman and one hundred central committee members. In the second phase, the remaining office bearers will be elected from among the elected central committee members.