Rastriya Prajatantra Party and RPP Nepal Merger Lacks Legal Validity After Seven Months

Kathmandu. The merger between Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) and RPP Nepal, which took place in Poush (mid-December to mid-January), has failed to gain legal validity for seven months. The merger between RPP led by Rajendra Lingden and RPP Nepal led by Kamal Thapa was announced on Poush 16 (early January).

The Election Commission has not yet granted validity as both parties failed to submit the necessary documents. RPP had submitted its application for party unification only on Asar 3 (mid-June).

The Commission has now corresponded with RPP Nepal and RPP, requesting the necessary documents. In a letter sent on Srawan 1 (mid-July), the Commission stated that upon studying and verifying the documents submitted with the application, it was found that the necessary documents and details were insufficient as per Section 10 of the Political Parties Act, 2073 (2016/17) and Rule 8 of the Political Parties Regulations, 2074 (2017/18), and directed them to provide further details.

The Commission has requested the original copies of signatures of all office bearers and members included in Schedule-9, copies of their citizenship certificates, and Schedule-9 with the signatures and seals of both chairpersons, along with its soft copy.

Similarly, as per the provisions of Schedule-9, the party's regulations, the original party registration certificate of RPP Nepal, and clear details regarding the management of assets and liabilities of the former parties after the merger have also been requested, signed by Rudrabir Karki, an officer of the Commission.

In addition, the Commission has directed them to submit details fulfilling the provision of at least one-third women members as per Sub-section (4) of Section 15 of the Political Parties Act, 2073 (2016/17).

A one-sentence agreement was reached between Lingden and Thapa on Poush 9 (early January) to announce the merger on Poush 16 (early January). The surprise agreement stated, "We have agreed to merge RPP and RPP Nepal. The merger announcement ceremony will be held in the National Assembly on Poush 16, 2082 (early January 2026)."

Accordingly, on Poush 16 (early January), a six-point basis paper regarding the merger was made public. According to the basis paper, after the merger, the party would adopt the ideological guidance passed by the RPP's 2078 (2021/22) unification general convention, and the party would advance with the guiding principles of equality among all religions, complete religious freedom, a secular Hindu state, democracy with a monarchy, strong local self-governance, a liberal economy, and a non-aligned foreign policy.

It was also agreed that the RPP's constitution, election symbol 'plow', and flag would remain as they were after the merger, and Lingden would be the central president of the unified party.

Regarding the organizational structure, it was mentioned that the central working committee members elected from the RPP's unification general convention would remain as they are for the time being, and office bearers and members of RPP Nepal would also be adjusted into the central working committee based on consensus.

Similarly, it was mentioned in the basis paper that office bearers and members at the ward, village, municipality, and district levels who were in office during the 2078 (2021/22) general convention would be adjusted respectfully in their respective districts based on consensus.

Likewise, an agreement was reached to respectfully adjust the office bearers and members of RPP Nepal's organized bodies into RPP's respective sister organizations. Although the party merged according to the agreement, the adjustment work has been delayed, according to former leaders of RPP.

Amidst this, the House of Representatives election took place, and after the election, disputes within the party escalated, leading to the Dhaval Shamsher Rana group leaving the party, and Rabi Lamichhane also leaving the party. In such a situation, Lingden is currently facing criticism within the party, according to leaders. Not only this, but in a recent central committee meeting of RPP, leaders from the anti-Lingden group, including former chairman Kamal Thapa, boycotted the meeting. Amidst this boycott, the central committee meeting announced a general convention in Mangsir (late November-mid December).

Leaders have been stating that the party is not functioning smoothly, and it has been found that the merger issue has not yet gained legal validity. Janakraj Pathak, a central member of RPP, said it is surprising that the merger between RPP and RPP Nepal has not received legal validity even after seven months.

Talking to Ratopati, Pathak claimed that although an agreement was reached between RPP Chairman Lingden and RPP Nepal Chairman Thapa for unification on Poush 9 (early January) and the merger was announced on Poush 16 (early January), there was no clear decision from RPP's central committee to merge with RPP Nepal before that.

According to him, although RPP had decided to merge with forces and groups with similar ideological views, the formal decision to merge with RPP Nepal was made later.

Pathak claimed that only the RPP's central committee meeting held on Asar 5 (mid-June) passed the proposal to merge with RPP Nepal by name. "The decision to give legal validity to the agreement made in Poush was made by the central committee meeting on Asar 5," he said.

He revealed that the process of party unification has not yet been finalized and that the Election Commission has already corresponded with RPP three times seeking further details.

"It is a serious matter that the agreement made in Poush has not received validity even after seven months. The process of party unification usually does not take such a long time," Pathak said, adding, "The fact that the legal process has not been completed even after such a long time indicates a problem somewhere."

He claimed that it is unusual for the merger not to receive legal recognition even after seven months and stated that the party leadership should provide a clear explanation regarding this.

On the other hand, RPP leaders claim that the merger process is moving forward as per legal procedures and that only some technical documents requested by the Election Commission are yet to be submitted.

RPP leader Rajaram Bartoula claimed that both parties had already made decisions to merge in their respective meetings before the unification, and stated that they are in the process of submitting the technical documents requested by the Election Commission. "The decision has been made, the Commission has asked for some technical documents. We are preparing to submit them after arranging them in a few days," he said.

Similarly, RPP General Secretary Rajendra Gurung also said that the work of preparing the additional documents requested by the Election Commission is underway. According to him, the necessary documents will be arranged and submitted to the Commission after the chairman's presence.

Gurung claimed that the decision regarding party unification has already been made by the working executive committee and the central working committee, denying allegations of insufficient process. "The decision to merge has been made. Only one or two documents requested by the Election Commission are yet to be submitted, and they will be submitted," he said.