KATHMANDU: The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) led by Rabi Lamichhane has intensified talks with senior leaders of major political parties expressing its willingness to join the government with “conditions”.
RSP sources said party Chairman Lamichhane held “informal” talks with CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli, Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Chairman Rajendra Lingden on joining the government.
Meanwhile, both the NC and the UML have hinted that they would include RSP, the fourth largest party in the House of Representatives (HoR), in the government.
The RSP has won a total of 20 seats — 7 under the first-past-the-post and 13 under Proportional representation – in the November 20 elections.
Sources, however, dubbed the meetings as “informal and courtesy calls” even as party insiders said that the talks focussed on the terms and conditions for joining the government.
Lamichhane held discussions with the leaders of both alliances led by Nepali Congress and CPN-UML.
RSP has also put forth its agenda, including the right to vote for the Nepalis living abroad, corruption control, good governance, and reforms of the education sector, among others.
RSP is ready to participate in the government if the government agrees on the agenda.
RSP will formally make an announcement on joining the government after getting substantive assurance of enforcing its agenda, an RSP lawmaker said insisting on anonymity.
However, some leaders of the RSP insist that the party should not join the government while a section of the party is in favor of joining the government to implement their agenda.
The party is holding its central committee meeting on Saturday to discuss matters such as the selection of the leader of the parliamentary party, the drafting of the statute of the parliamentary party, government issues, and the expansion of the central committee.
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