- The Rastriya Swatantra Party launched its first three-day general convention in Chitwan to elect new leadership and define long-term organizational policies.
- Chairman Rabi Lamichhane and Prime Minister Balen Shah inaugurated the event, calling for political stability and effective governance across Nepal.
- Prime Minister Shah emphasized government priorities including border sovereignty, anti-corruption initiatives, and resolving long-standing issues for cooperative victims.
- Leaders from major parties acknowledged the RSP's rapid political rise, viewing the convention as a crucial step toward institutional maturity.
Chitwan, Nepal: The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has begun its first general convention in Chitwan, bringing together leaders, delegates, and supporters at a time when the party is attempting to transition from rapid political rise to long-term institutional stability.
The three-day convention, which opened on Sunday, is expected to elect new leadership and decide the party’s future policies, organizational structure, and political direction. For a party that entered national politics only recently, the gathering is being closely watched as a test of how it manages its growing public expectations.
The event was formally inaugurated in a symbolic manner, with party chairman Rabi Lamichhane and Prime Minister Balen Shah jointly ringing a bell to mark the beginning of the convention. The same gesture was repeated at the end of the inaugural session, reflecting a message of unity and shared responsibility.
Speaking at the opening session, Chairman Lamichhane emphasized coordination within the leadership structure, saying that while Prime Minister Shah carries the responsibility of running the government, he himself would continue in a supportive and guiding role within the party.
He also used the platform to call on major political parties, including the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, to address their internal disputes. According to him, instability within established parties does not remain confined within party walls but often affects the country’s broader political environment.
Prime Minister Shah, in his address, focused on the direction and pace of his government’s work. Describing his administration as “a vehicle on an expressway,” he said the government’s priority is to move forward quickly and steadily until its goals are achieved.
On sensitive national issues, including border-related concerns, Shah said Nepal has sufficient historical evidence to support its position and stressed that policy decisions would be guided by facts and documentation. He also rejected remarks questioning his nationalism, calling such criticism unnecessary.
He further expressed readiness to engage in long-term discussions with relevant constitutional bodies, including the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), if required, to address past corruption and misuse of public resources. He reiterated his commitment to resolving long-standing issues affecting landless communities and victims of cooperatives during the current term.
The convention also drew attention from leaders of other political parties, reflecting RSP’s growing influence in national politics.
Former Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai described the party’s rise as part of Nepal’s ongoing search for alternative political options, while rejecting claims that his support was driven by personal interest.
Nepali Congress President Gagan Kumar Thapa offered a notably warm tone, acknowledging RSP’s rapid rise in public support. He said political parties should see each other as competitors rather than enemies and stressed the importance of self-improvement in politics instead of hostility.
CPN-UML Under-Secretary Pradeep Gyawali suggested that party leadership under Rabi Lamichhane is likely to be endorsed without major contest, indicating internal unity within the RSP. Other leaders, including former Deputy Prime Minister Upendra Yadav, also delivered speeches at the convention.
As the convention continues, attention now shifts to leadership selection and policy decisions expected in the coming days. For many observers, this convention is not just about internal party processes but also about how a relatively new political force plans to sustain its momentum and translate public support into long-term governance credibility.
