KATHMANDU: The Secretariat meeting of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) will be held on Monday afternoon at 4:00 pm, according to party vice chair DP Aryal.
One of the key topics of discussion will be the money laundering and fraud case filed against party chair Rabi Lamichhane, who is facing a lawsuit with claims amounting to millions of rupees. The meeting is expected to address this legal matter and the ongoing leadership issues within the party.
Since Lamichhane’s arrest on October 18, RSP has yet to appoint a functioning party chairman. The party has also been unable to convene a meeting of its parliamentary party, as Lamichhane, who holds the position of parliamentary leader, has left the decision of who should replace him in limbo.
Aryal, who is currently traveling from Pokhara to Kathmandu, along with fellow vice chair, Swarnim Wagle, will join the meeting in the capital.
Additionally, RSP parliamentary party deputy leader Biraj Bhakta Shrestha and lawmaker Shishir Khanal are also en route to Kathmandu after meeting with Lamichhane in Pokhara on Sunday.
According to the party’s statute, the position of acting party chairman is to be filled by the senior-most vice president. In this regard, Wagle is senior to DP Aryal, although Wagle has not expressed any interest in assuming the role of acting chairman during the Secretariat meeting held on October 25.
As per the party’s rules, is likely to assume the position of parliamentary party leader.
In related developments, following the registration of three writ petitions against Lamichhane, the Kaski District Police Office sent a letter to the Parliament Secretariat, recommending the suspension of Lamichhane’s parliamentary seat.
RSP has criticized this as a retaliatory move, accusing the Parliament Secretariat of hastily making decisions without proper consultation. The party’s leaders have strongly opposed the letter’s actions.
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