KATHMANDU: Rajyalaxmi Golchha, a member of the business family Golchha Organization, has been included in the preliminary proportional candidate list of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP).
Her name appears in the preliminary list of proportional candidates for Koshi Province, under the Madhesi quota, as per the party’s announcement. RSP has allocated Saturday to discuss the candidacy with those included in the preliminary list.
Golchha previously served as a proportional representative lawmaker for the UML during the second Constituent Assembly elections. Her selection drew sharp criticism within UML, as she was accused of securing the parliamentary seat by contributing a large sum of money.
Despite directions from the party to resign for not voting for KP Sharma Oli as the prime ministerial candidate, Golchha refused to step down. The UML standing committee, in a meeting on October 18, 2015, had formally instructed her to resign.
Rajyalaxmi is the wife of industrialist Mahendra Kumar Golchha, and the Golchha Group is credited with significantly contributing to the development of Biratnagar. Her father-in-law is Ramlal Golchha. After her relations with UML soured, she briefly joined the Bibeksheel Sajha Party. Following the merger of RSP and Bibeksheel Party, she was included in RSP’s preliminary proportional candidate list.
Golchha has previously faced allegations of engaging in politics through her wealth. She herself claimed to have given Rs 16.5 million UML, Rs 10 million to Govinda Thapa of the Youth Association, Rs 1 million to Madhav Nepal via Gangalal Tuladhar, Rs 1 million to Gokarna Bista, Rs 6.5 million to the Youth Association, Rs 1 million to Rishi Pokhrel, and Rs 5 million to Suman Pyakurel.
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