Rastriya Swatantra Party Convention Creates Suspicion Within Party

Kathmandu. The first national convention of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) held in Chitwan has created suspicion rather than unity within the party. The attempt to elect leadership by consensus at the convention held in Asar (7-12) failed, leading to electoral competition.

This convention of RSP was also an 'Ekta Mahadhiveshan' (Unity Convention), so everyone watched it with interest, but after the candidates who came through the adjustment process received a large number of votes in the election of central committee members, the aspirants for the posts of office bearers increased significantly. Rabi Lamichhane was unanimously elected as the chairman with Balen's proposal. Balen himself is certain to remain the senior leader. The provision for keeping a senior leader in the statute was made for him.

In the election for 6 posts, including two vice-chairpersons, one general secretary, and three joint general secretaries, 26 people had registered their candidacies. In the election for one vice-chairperson post for men, Dr. Swarnim Wagle was elected unopposed as no one else filed a candidacy against him. For one female vice-chairperson, Samiksha Baskota, Minister of Law Sobita Gautam, and Dr. Tosima Karki had filed their candidacies. Baskota later withdrew her candidacy. In the competition between the remaining two, Gautam was elected.

For the post of general secretary, considered important after the chairman, Shishir Khanal, Minister of Foreign Affairs, former general secretary Kabindra Burlakoti, former joint general secretary Bipin Acharya, former secretariat member Ganesh Parajuli, Sagar Dhakal, former spokesperson Manish Jha, Ranju Darshana, Pramod Neupane, Raju Raj Pandey, and Ganesh Karki had filed their candidacies. By the time the final list of candidates was published, Khanal, Burlakoti, Parajuli, Darshana, and Neupane had withdrawn their candidacies and supported Acharya. Acharya won in the competition among the remaining four.

For the joint general secretary (open category), Ramesh Prasai, Yagyamani Nyaupane, Sulabh Kharel, Asim Shah, Ashok Kumar Chaudhary, Milan Limbu, Pukar Bam, Rajiv Khatri, Vijay Jaru, Hari Dhakal, and Himesh Panta had filed their candidacies. For the women's category, Julie Yadav, Jamuna Sharma (Bidushi), Kamini Kumari Chaudhary, Nisha Dangi, and Rima Bishwakarma had filed their candidacies. Dhakal, Shah, and Dangi were elected as joint general secretaries.

Notably, Chairman Rabi stayed at the polling station all night on the 11th to try to select the leadership by consensus, but his efforts failed. After consensus could not be reached, the Election Commission moved forward with the electoral process. Jha appeared confident of winning as it seemed like a competition would occur among the founding members for the post of general secretary.

Meanwhile, Sagar Dhakal, who came from Balen's group, and Ganesh Karki, considered the permanent opposition within RSP, concluded that the election results could come in their favor. Leaders say that according to the statute, it is almost certain that Bhupdev Shah from his group will be nominated as one of the two general secretaries.

Leaders claim that as it became apparent that the non-founding faction would win the general secretary post through electoral competition, Kabindra Burlakoti, Ganesh Parajuli, Pramod Neupane, and Shishir Khanal withdrew their candidacies on the morning of Asar 12 and supported Acharya. However, Parajuli claimed that the candidacies were not withdrawn to gain any post or for factionalism. He stated that the founding faction united to maintain internal unity and prevent unnecessary polarization.

'I showed political maturity by prioritizing the construction of a common consensus and the long-term interests of the party. This strategic sacrifice will always be remembered in history,' Parajuli told Ratopati. 'I did not ask to be deputy leader. I have not bargained for a post. Someone might be conducting a media trial from outside. There has been no proposal from anywhere regarding making me the Industry Minister. I reached that decision thinking that if some stain comes to save the party, let it come. I have no objection to that.'

He clarified that he did not feel that anyone had bargained for a post during the overnight discussions with the chairman the day before the election of office bearers. 'We discussed on that day to nominate candidates by consensus. Shishir ji withdrew his candidacy at that time. I also told Manish ji to withdraw his candidacy and make a common candidate, but he did not agree. At that time, I did not hear anyone say what they would get by withdrawing their candidacy. If anyone bargained personally, I don't know,' he said.

However, according to sources, some ministers in Balen's government who have shown weak performance are being recalled to manage the leaders who withdrew their candidacies. Before the convention, there was talk of removing Health Minister Nisha Mehta, Minister of Women, Children and Senior Citizens Sita Wadi, Minister of Communications and Information Dr. Bikram Timilsina, Minister of Agriculture, Forest and Environment Gita Chaudhary, and Minister of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Gauri Kumari due to their weak performance evaluation. However, Prime Minister's press advisor Deepa Dahal said that the change of ministers is not certain.

On the morning of filing candidacies for office bearers, Burlakoti complained to the representatives that the problem arose because some people expected to gain posts rather than build the party. He announced that he had withdrawn his candidacy to save the party, being a founding member who had not taken membership in any party in the past.

'I am one of the founding members. We have worked hard to bring the party this far. I am ready to make any sacrifice to save the party, but some friends talked about what posts they would get in return for their sacrifice rather than building the party,' Burlakoti had said.

However, he did not wish to disclose who bargained for posts. Founding member Yagyamani Nyaupane, who was with them all night, asserted that there was no discussion about the distribution of posts.

'RSP has become a big party through the adjustment of various groups. The chairman tried his best to elect the leadership by consensus. There was no discussion about forming any faction or promising posts. The allegation of factionalism is not true,' he said.

Newly elected central members and office bearers of RSP will take their oath at the central office in Banesthali, said leader Ganesh Parajuli. He said that the first meeting of the central committee will be held after the oath-taking ceremony. 'After the oath-taking, the central committee meeting will be held. Therefore, a decision will be made regarding nominated members,' he said.

According to the party statute, the chairman has the authority to nominate 51 members. Accordingly, the chairman will nominate one senior leader, one vice-chairman, one general secretary, and two joint general secretaries, one spokesperson, three deputy spokespersons, one treasurer, and two deputy treasurers for the office bearers.

Balen is almost certain to be the senior leader, Sunil Lamshal, Minister of Physical Infrastructure, the vice-chairman, and Bhupdev Shah, the general secretary. Since Jha has said he will not be the spokesperson, Burlakoti seems likely. Pramod Neupane has also shown aspiration for this post. For the two joint general secretaries, Laxman Tharu from the Tharu community and Khagendra Sunar from the Dalit community are likely. The names of the three deputy spokespersons are not yet clear. Lima Adhikari, the former treasurer, has not expressed a desire to continue. Two deputy treasurers will include one nominated from Balen's group.