Parties Oppose Rastriya Swatantra Party's Proposal to Abolish Provincial Assemblies

Kathmandu. Other parties have opposed the agenda of 'abolition of provincial assembly' passed by the ruling party Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) in its general convention. Nepali Congress, CPN UML and Nepali Communist Party are seen against the proposal.

In the first general convention of RSP ongoing in Bharatpur, Chitwan, Chairman Rabi Lamichhane and Vice-Chairman and current government's Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle presented separate reports. The 'Political Report and Proposal' presented by Chairman Lamichhane and the 'Economic-Political Proposal of Rastriya Swatantra Party' presented by Vice-Chairman Dr. Wagle mention how to make the provincial assembly by amending the constitution.

In the 'Political Report and Proposal' presented by Chairman Lamichhane, under the title 'Our Different View on Constitutional Amendment', there is a short writing about the provincial assembly. Lamichhane has mentioned that the party is in favor of restructuring the provincial assembly and provincial government.

His report states, 'We are in favor of a directly elected executive with stable leadership and clear responsibility. We are in favor of a fully proportional electoral system instead of the current very expensive electoral system, which ensures representation of all communities. We are in favor of making the current National Assembly a non-party expert assembly and making the Vice-President the chairman of the assembly. Similarly, we are in favor of restructuring the provincial assembly and provincial government.'

The 'Economic-Political Proposal of Rastriya Swatantra Party' presented by Vice-Chairman Dr. Wagle mentions the need to restructure federalism, including the abolition of the provincial assembly.

'Directly elected prime minister, system where MPs do not become ministers, non-party local level and one-third reduction in the number of 753, restructuring of federalism including abolition of provincial assembly, fundamental reform of other constitutional bodies including the Judicial Council, transparent funding of recognized political parties' such governance reform agendas have been introduced for discussion by RSP,' it is stated in Wagle's proposal.

Mahendra Yadav, a central member of the main opposition party Nepali Congress, says that these issues covered in both proposals are against the multi-party system and the inclusive constitution. Yadav said that if anyone dreams of destroying or changing the constitutional provision regarding the provincial assembly, Congress will take to the streets.

'If anyone dreams of destroying or changing the provincial assembly established through repeated major movements, the multi-party system and the inclusive constitution, Nepali Congress will take to the streets,' Yadav told Ratopati. 'Just as we removed Panchayat, removed Rana rule, and made the king's direct rule kneel through movements, we will also remove this government.'

Yadav also said that the proposal to make the National Assembly and local level non-party is also unacceptable. 'In a party system, how can there be a non-party National Assembly? How can there be a non-party local level?' Yadav said. 'The National Assembly is also a body of the federal parliament. Local levels are also representatives. The constitution has defined local levels as local governments. They cannot be non-party.'

Yadav also said that the proposal for an executive prime minister is not suitable for a country like Nepal. 'For Nepal, the parliamentary system is better than the system of an executive prime minister,' Yadav said. 'A directly elected executive prime minister will invite dictatorship in Nepal.'

CPN UML spokesperson Niraj Acharya reacted that the proposal passed by RSP's general convention is against the federal democratic republic and is motivated by populism and right-wing thinking. 'We heard that RSP's document was passed. If it was really passed, it contradicts the basic structure of the constitution,' Acharya told Ratopati. 'It is against the federal democratic republic. This proposal is motivated by populism and right-wing thinking, which is trying to push the country back into instability by creating disgust towards the system among the people.'

Acharya also said that this proposal of RSP is anti-change and regressive. He said that UML will stand in favor of protecting the constitution, strengthening federalism, and inclusive democracy. 'UML will firmly stand in favor of protecting the constitution, strengthening federalism, and inclusive democracy,' Acharya said. 'This proposal of RSP is anti-change and regressive, so it will not benefit the country.' 

Rajendra Shrestha, leader of Nepali Communist Party (NCP), said that RSP has attacked the federal system of governance obtained as an achievement of the great people's revolution of 2062/063 by passing the proposal to abolish the provincial assembly. In a social media post on Facebook, leader Shrestha also pointed out contradictions in the proposals of Chairman Lamichhane and Vice-Chairman Dr. Wagle.

Under the title 'Two Bells on Federalism in RSP', Shrestha wrote, 'Rastriya Swatantra Party has passed a proposal to move forward in the center-left stream of the Socialist International by passing a proposal for a directly elected president, fully proportional parliament, cabinet of experts, and restructuring of provinces in its political proposal. However, the economic-political proposal presented at the same general convention defines the party as a pluralistic democratic force believing in a liberal economy with social justice, and by passing the proposal to abolish the provincial assembly, it has attacked the federal system of governance obtained as an achievement of the great people's revolution of 2062/063. These two proposals contradict each other. But news has come that both proposals have been passed by the general convention. Why such a contradiction?'

Shrestha also expressed confidence that RSP will correct the economic-political proposal in line with Chairman Lamichhane's proposal. 'My best wishes - RSP will correct its economic-political proposal in line with the political proposal presented by the party chairman. Also, it will adopt the policies taken by social democrats worldwide to solve the problems of the working class and oppressed nationalities that match Nepal's specific situation,' Shrestha wrote.