Rastriya Swatantra Party Central Office Bearer Election: Contention for Positions Amidst Agreement

Kathmandu. With too many aspirants for limited posts, the process of agreement and voting has been advanced simultaneously for the central office bearers of Rastriya Swatantra Party. After 99 central members were elected, it is not yet certain whether the voting or agreement process will be advanced for the 6 posts of office bearers. However, the leadership has advanced both processes simultaneously. With Dr. Swarnim Wagle's sole candidacy for open vice-president, he has been elected unopposed. However, there are two candidacies for the post of one women vice-president. Among them are Minister Sobita Gautam and Dr. Tosima Karki. Similarly, 8 people have filed candidacies for the post of 1 general secretary. The election committee has informed that Pramod Neupane, Rajunath Pandey, Manish Jha, Ranju Darshana, Ganesh Karki, Ganesh Parajuli, Sagar Dhakal and Bipin Kumar Acharya have filed candidacies for the general secretary. On the other hand, 11 people have registered candidacies for 2 posts of joint general secretary in the open category. According to the final list of joint general secretary candidates made public on Friday, Ramesh Prasai, along with Yagyamani Neupane, Shulabh Kharel, Asim Shah, Ashok Kumar Chaudhary, Milan Limbu, Pukar Bam, Rajiv Khatri, Vijay Jaruwa, Hari Dhakal and Himesh Panta have registered their candidacies, informed Chief Election Commissioner Bhuvan KC. Kabindra Burlaoti, who was vying for general secretary, Shishir Khanal, Jagdish Kharel, and Samiksha Baskota, who was vying for vice-president, have stepped back in favor of agreement. Burlaoti was previously the general secretary. It is said that party president Ravi Lamichhane has assured Burlaoti, considered close to him, of nomination as vice-president or appointment as minister. However, Burlaoti has stated that he is ready to sacrifice for the construction of the party and to move forward through agreement.