KATHMANDU: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) chair Rabi Lamichhane is currently serving time at Nakkhu Jail in Lalitpur over his alleged involvement in the Supreme Cooperative fraud case. Yet, from behind bars, Lamichhane continues to steer his party’s key decisions, including the upcoming by-election in Rupandehi-3.
The constituency fell vacant after the death of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) lawmaker Deepak Bohora, and the by-election is scheduled for November 3. As the campaign atmosphere heats up, Lamichhane’s influence over candidate selection has become the talk of Kathmandu’s political circles.
Candidate chosen from jail
On Sunday, nine hopefuls seeking RSP’s ticket for Rupandehi-3 visited Nakkhu Jail to meet their jailed party chair. According to aspirant Sulabh Kharel, Lamichhane urged them to accept his decision gracefully, reminding them that everyone’s chance will come in the future. Shortly after the jailhouse meeting, the party’s secretariat finalized Dr. Lekh Jung Thapa as its official candidate.
Although RSP has formally appointed Vice-President Dol Prasad Aryal (DP) as acting president, insiders admit that Aryal’s role is largely symbolic. “The party continues to run as per Rabi’s direction,” said one central committee member.
Lamichhane’s control was evident in July when, while being held at Bhairahawa Jail, he ordered the RSP parliamentary party meeting to take place inside the prison itself. Lawmakers flew down from Kathmandu, met him beforehand to set the agenda, and held the meeting within the jail compound.
Party insiders also recall how Lamichhane personally intervened in disputes, such as blocking the resignation of general secretary Sumana Shrestha earlier this year and lobbying for the promotion of close aide Deepak Bohora. Many complain that these moves show the president’s dominance, even from detention.
Stalled general convention
The party had initially decided to hold its first general convention in March 2025, following a national gathering last October. But with Lamichhane behind bars, preparations have stalled. Leaders admit it will be difficult to organize the event unless he is released.
Similarly, in the 2024 local by-elections, RSP was able to field candidates in only 26 out of 44 vacant seats, citing the absence of its president as a factor. The party won just one ward in Kathmandu.
Despite these setbacks, the party still enjoys significant clout, with 21 lawmakers and over 1.1 million votes in the 2022 general election, making it the fourth largest political force in Nepal. RSP is now banking on Rupandehi-3 to reclaim momentum after economist Swarnim Wagle’s high-profile victory in Tanahun-1 last year.
Accusations of personality-driven politics
Critics argue that Lamichhane’s dominance undermines RSP’s democratic image. Political analyst Surendra Labh says the party, which claims to be an alternative force, has revealed itself to be personality-driven rather than institutionally democratic.
“Running a party from jail shows it is centered on one person, not on collective leadership,” Labh told Khabarhub. “Instead of empowering the party structure, Lamichhane is treating it like personal property. This mirrors the very traditional parties RSP promised to replace.”
He suggests Lamichhane should step down and allow the central committee and secretariat to function independently. “If RSP wants to prove it is truly alternative, it must embrace internal democracy,” he added.
RSP’s candidate, Thapa, will face a competitive race in Rupandehi-3, where the by-election is shaping up as a crucial test of the party’s credibility under Lamichhane’s remote leadership. The contest will also measure how far Lamichhane’s charisma extends beyond his physical presence on the campaign trail.
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