BHAIRAHAWA: The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) convened a crucial parliamentary party meeting in Bhairahawa on Wednesday afternoon, holding the gathering near the district prison where party Chair Rabi Lamichhane is currently in custody.
According to party spokesperson Manish Jha, the meeting was scheduled between 1 PM and 4 PM at a local hotel not far from the jail, in a move widely seen as symbolic support for Lamichhane, who is detained in connection with a high-profile cooperative fraud case.
Several RSP lawmakers, including party vice presidents D.P. Aryal and Dr. Swarnim Wagle, general secretary Kabindra Burlakoti, and spokesperson Jha, had arrived in Bhairahawa on Tuesday. Prior to the meeting, they held discussions with locals in Rupandehi Constituency-3, where a by-election is scheduled for November 3.
On Wednesday morning, acting party chair Aryal, along with lawmakers Sobita Gautam, Ashim Shah, and Dr. Chanda Karki, visited the jail to meet Lamichhane.
During the meeting, Lamichhane reportedly expressed gratitude for the ongoing public petition campaign in his support, which has gathered over 250,000 signatures. He also urged party leaders not to lose touch with the “ground reality” and to remain actively engaged in the campaign.
RSP is currently without a parliamentary party leader after Lamichhane’s suspension from the House. Although no acting leader has been appointed, party deputy leader Biraj Bhakta Shrestha has been fulfilling the coordination role within the parliamentary group.
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