KATHMANDU: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane has clarified that the party is not in favour of abolishing Nepal’s provincial structure, saying its focus is on making federalism more effective rather than dismantling it.
Speaking to journalists after the RSP parliamentary party meeting at Singha Durbar on Friday, Lamichhane said the political report adopted at the party’s first general convention did not propose the abolition of provinces.
“We all know there are many issues in the Constitution that require debate. Other political parties have spoken more strongly than we have on these matters,” he said. “I don’t think we have written anywhere that the provinces should be abolished.”
Lamichhane explained that the party had proposed discussions on “retrofitting” the provincial structure to improve its effectiveness, rather than eliminating it. He said the need to review and strengthen the functioning of provincial governments has been acknowledged across the political spectrum.
“We have said the provincial structure should be retrofitted because everyone has felt the need for reforms. It is not only the RSP that has raised this issue,” he said.
“Leaders of several older political parties have even argued that the provinces should be abolished. What we have said is that we should explore ways to make the provincial structure more effective.”
He reiterated that the RSP supports the democratic system and federalism, while advocating reforms to make the federal structure more efficient, accountable and responsive to citizens.
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