Rabi Lamichhane Directs Party Members Against Forming Factions in First General Convention

Kathmandu. Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chairman Rabi Lamichhane has directed the representatives not to form any factions, sub-factions, or panels in the election during the party's first general convention. 

Inaugurating the closed session of the general convention, he warned against unhealthy activities such as sending names internally and soliciting votes over the phone, emphasizing the need for healthy competition in the election.

He stated that Nepali citizens have placed immense trust in bringing RSP this far and that it is now time to convert achievements into results. 'Dreams and desires alone do not come true on autopilot; some steps must be taken for them,' Lamichhane said. He claimed that the party has achieved a government with nearly two-thirds majority even before its first general convention, a rare occurrence in world political history, and stressed the importance of not just glorifying this achievement.

Lamichhane also announced, using his special power as chairman, that the Rs 5,000 fee set for general convention representatives would be made voluntary. He made this decision so that no one would have to return without voting due to increased expenses from staying for many days or due to financial burden.

He clarified that representatives who have already paid the fee can get their money back if they wish, and the party will arrange alternative sources for those who cannot pay the fee. Stating that there is a tendency to pull each other's legs in politics, he urged those who can to hold the hands of those who cannot and pull them up.

He also refuted various rumors circulating within the party regarding positions or candidacies. He clarified that the party has not made any formal decision to prevent those who are MPs or ministers from becoming candidates or to discriminate between old and new members. He stated that anyone can contest freely and that it is not RSP's character to issue directives on whom to vote for or not.

He urged the representatives to use their discretion when selecting leaders for the party's central committee. 'You should not come with a rubber stamp or thumbprint just because someone made you a member or brought you this far, mortgaging your conscience,' he said.

He advised voting only for capable individuals who are accountable to the country and the party, even if they were brought to the convention through improper means. He emphasized that even a small seed of wrong people and tendencies, if sown, can lead to disaster in the long run and urged against allowing such a tradition to enter RSP.

Stating that he is separate from everyone in the election process, he said that whoever wins the election, the 'bell' will win, and everyone is a family member. Although efforts for consensus are underway, he said that all representatives are equal and dear to him, and he cannot favor some over others.

At the program, Lamichhane said that while disagreements or problems may arise within the party, the ability to resolve them makes a party mature. He urged that any dissatisfaction and disagreements within the party should be resolved through discussions within closed rooms and not be turned into a spectacle on the streets or in the field.

He called for making history by completing the general convention without disputes, in a healthy and clean manner, presenting RSP as an example of a party capable of resolving all its differences. He informed that reports from the political, economic, and disciplinary commissions would be presented in the closed session and discussed in depth.

Edited excerpt of the address:

Although the journey as a political party is short, it has certainly not been easy. You all have participated in the twists and turns of this journey, and you are all witnesses to it. I have been talking about the ups and downs and turns of this journey on various platforms and in documents. Repeating them again would be a waste of time. But I want to say this much: where we have reached today, this great gathering that officially and legally validates a dream we have seen, is a great and historic opportunity that will guide the future of our party, our political lives, and the country as a whole. I urge you all to make sincere use of this opportunity.

Friends, we have become a large national party by bringing together people who have never been in politics through various campaigns, intending to do politics, and people gathered from various established political parties. I am confident that you, the representatives gathered here today, will primarily represent patriotism. This party was established in difficult circumstances, and looking at those circumstances, Nepali citizens have placed their immense trust in us. In a rare event in world political history, we have achieved a government with nearly two-thirds majority before our first general convention. Now we have two paths: either to glorify this achievement or to convert it into results? We have these two challenges.

If I ask anyone, 'Shall we sing the song of this success, dance, or convert it into results?' you will undoubtedly say, 'Convert it into results.' But if we are truly to convert it into results, we must make some commitments, contribute something, friends! Those things will not happen automatically on autopilot just because we desire them or dream about them. For that, we must do some work, take some steps.

Our journey today is not as difficult as the political journey of the previous generation. Yesterday was extremely difficult – one had to risk their life, go into exile, face imprisonment, become a martyr. One had to live carrying bullet fragments all over their body. Today is different. The challenges have not decreased, but it would not be an exaggeration to say that the struggle is easier compared to yesterday. However, the struggle has not been easy for everyone on this journey either. Many friends have also come from the recent people's war, where there was also a risk to life. Some friends, struggling in exile in the past, seeing their national aspirations unfulfilled by old political parties, have come to trust RSP. Some have come here representing the armed struggle of that time. And today, many such friends are in this hall who are carrying bullet fragments from the struggle for change in their bodies. I express my highest respect to all of you.

Regardless of where and how you have come, our objective is common. Our path and our method of achieving the goal must be the same. It must be political, and it must embrace change. Respected attendees, if our political character remains the same, if the political infighting remains the same, if the race to gain power remains the same, and if the struggle for factions and sub-factions to become increasingly powerful remains the same, then the results we produce will be the same as those of the old parties, no different. If we want different results, we must think differently. Regardless of where and how you have come, the commitment we have to make for the nation is mixed within this blue color. Therefore, anyone who dreams of achieving different results by adopting yesterday's style will head towards failure.

Therefore, today, at the beginning of this closed session and the inaugural session, I want to tell you only a few things. Being a general convention representative does not mean giving a rubber stamp or thumbprint to someone just because they made you a member, mortgaging your conscience. If someone has adopted improper means to make you a member or bring you to this hall, and you think you have to be accountable to the person who brought you here, then you are on the wrong path. You must be accountable to this country, accountable to the entire party. We have come here rebelling against that very wrong tendency. If we sow it again, it will lead to disaster at some point. You have seen where disaster has brought us. Therefore, I leave the responsibility of saving this historic opportunity from disaster to your conscience.

I recall that during the process of conventions and general conventions, I tried to keep myself separate from all friends. In a way, I stayed in isolation. Because I know that whoever wins, it will be a 'bell' carrier friend who wins. I believe that whoever wins is a member of my family. In the meantime, the responsibility of choosing the best person is yours. If a friend has brought you to this hall or made you a general convention representative, thank them. If they are wrong, tell them that thanks are not enough, but vote for the capable friend. I am not saying vote for this person or that person.

Yes, some friends might feel, 'We have been involved since the party's inception, so we have the right.' Some new friends might feel, 'Are old friends enough? We have also left our capable homes, our capable old parties, and such organizations, and come with hope and trust, so we should move forward.' But I want to tell everyone the same thing: whatever they feel, their political character must be right. You must wisely choose the person who will go to the central committee, which is considered the highest, most important, and the head or brain of the party, from the general convention. I am not doubting your conscience, but I am a little worried that a small seed of wrong tradition and wrong tendency might be sown somewhere. I implore you at this general convention that not even a single seed of wrong people and tendencies is sown. Because we have already seen the results it yields.

Dear friends, I have also heard some rumors during the general convention. I have received information about widespread discussions and even mentions of names regarding whether to give candidacies to MPs or not, to ministers or not, to old members or not, to new members or not. I want to tell you with full confidence that the party has not made any formal decision to prevent MPs or ministers from becoming candidates. Do not fall into such confusion and factionalism. Contest freely. It is your responsibility to vote for the person who contests, whether they are MPs, ministers, long-time party members, or those who joined RSP recently. But it is not RSP's character to issue directives on whom to vote for or not. We must use our discretion. What did we tell the citizens? 'This time, please use your discretion, vote using your discretion.' More than 5.2 million citizens used their discretion and have made RSP the most powerful political party in the country today. Now we too must use that discretion. Therefore, I request this of you.

This is our first general convention, and as we had to select and elect representatives wisely and intelligently with utmost efficiency, some challenges arose before us. Friends with new experiences faced difficulties. As chairman, I apologize for the difficulties you have faced. You have endured so much hardship here in this heat. But remember, in the political journey, many old friends have lost their blood, sweat, youth, and future in building their party. So, do not feel bad about having to endure a little hardship for two days, friends! This is for building our own home. If we don't build this home, who will?

As the party chairman, I want to use a special privilege and say that I want to make the Rs 5,000 fee set by the party for general convention representatives voluntary. It doesn't matter if friends who don't want to pay don't pay; the party will make arrangements for it. Because you have incurred a lot of expenses staying here for so many days. This decision has been made to end the compulsion of having to return without voting due to inability to manage expenses or facing difficulties. Friends who have already paid the fee can get their Rs 5,000 back if they wish. Rather, it would be good if those who can afford it would say, 'I will pay for one or two friends.' Let those who have help those who don't by holding their hands. This will send a message that in politics, legs are often pulled, but this time let's hold each other's hands and pull friends up. Let's not pull legs, let's hold hands. If someone cannot, the party will manage it through alternative sources. I instruct the relevant responsible bodies of the party to make this Rs 5,000 voluntary and allow those who have paid to get it back, so that you do not face financial burden. I think this has brought some coolness in this heat.

Friends, many such situations can arise in the party. In those situations too, we must stand together. If you have any difficulties now, please tell us. But in this great gathering, at this important moment in history, let your vote not be missed, let your participation not be missed in this work of writing history, not just witnessing it. May this heat not deter you, and may your financial situation not deter you. I also want to instruct the organizers to guarantee this.

Respected representative friends, I want to conclude my remarks by stating a few brief points. In organizing such a grand event, there will inevitably be shortcomings somewhere. We may have seen things we didn't like in the past process. Problems always arise. The only difference is how capable we are of solving problems. The ability to solve problems is what makes a political party mature. As a political party moving towards maturity, if there are any disagreements, curiosities, or questions among us, they should be resolved through discussions within closed rooms, not by making a spectacle on the street. I believe that you will make our discussions healthy and clean and will not take them to the streets or fields as a spectacle. If there are differences, we have a unique style of resolving them, and we ourselves must set an example that RSP is a party capable of resolving all its differences.

Finally, various reports, including political ones, will be presented. You will pay attention to the economic report, the report of the disciplinary commission, etc. Your advice and constructive criticism are expected. Similarly, as the party chairman, I am engaged in preparing the political report and will present it today. Along with that, the remaining programs of the closed session and the filing of candidacies will also take place.

It might have been possible to make the first general convention a national consensus convention and move forward with everyone's agreement. Efforts are also being made for that. But if that responsibility falls solely on the shoulders of the chairman, it becomes a very heavy burden for me. Because choosing 'the dearest' among my dear friends is a challenging task for me. I do not want to see differences among you. For me, all of you representatives are equal and close to my heart. I do not want to adopt the method of choosing 'this one or that one' among you. That is what the competition is for, not for any other reason. Because I know that whoever wins, it will be a 'bell' carrier who wins, a warrior of the blue revolution who wins. Therefore, I am confident about this.

Therefore, I want to give you the responsibility of healthy competition. Please do not form panels or factions or engage in unhealthy vote solicitation. The disciplinary commission and the election commission are also closely monitoring it. More importantly, our 5.2 million voters who will vote for us are watching. For their sake, let there be no factions or sub-factions within the party, no internal sending of names, and no messages of names going through phones. We are 'One Block RSP, Only RSP, and Only Bell Carrier.' Whoever wins, we will move forward with pride and tell the whole world: look, RSP has created history by competing healthily and cleanly without disputes! The first general convention itself is not history; completing the first general convention in a healthy and clean manner, moving forward with goodwill and respect for everyone, is history. Therefore, I have full confidence that you will not miss this opportunity to create history.

Once again, I extend my best wishes to all the representative friends who have come here from the peaks of the Himalayas, the summits of the hills, the plains of the Madhesh, and the remote and accessible places of the country in these challenging circumstances. May your stay here be pleasant and comfortable. May the opportunity to create history be such that no one misses voting in the entire process. Please stay. If anyone has any inconvenience in their stay or financially, the organizers and the party chairman take responsibility for making it comfortable for you. But if you have to leave due to financial or other reasons, please inform us. We will work with all our might to free you from such a situation and will cooperate and consult with everyone.

Once again, welcoming all of you, I would like to inform you that the closed session has begun. I also want to express my sincere thanks to all the journalist friends from various media who are conveying our information to the general public. Declaring the formal commencement of the closed session, I conclude my remarks here. Thank you, Long live the country, Long live the Bell!