KATHMANDU: The Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has instructed its provincial lawmakers not to participate in any government formation or power-sharing activities until the party issues an official decision from the central leadership.
The directive was issued following a meeting of the party’s Central Executive Committee chaired by RPP Chair Rajendra Lingden at the party’s central office in Dhumbarahi on Wednesday.
The committee authorized Lingden to make an appropriate decision on provincial government formation when deemed necessary.
The decision comes amid growing speculation over the RPP’s possible support for a CPN-UML-led government in Bagmati Province, where the party’s support is crucial for forming a majority government.
The RPP also sent a formal letter to Bagmati Provincial Assembly parliamentary party leader Uddhav Thapa, instructing lawmakers not to engage in any power-oriented political activities without prior approval from the party leadership.
The letter, signed by General Secretary and Secretariat Chief Rajendra Gurung, stated that the party would issue directives on participation in provincial governments at an appropriate time and instructed lawmakers to refrain from independent political negotiations until then.
The Central Executive Committee also clarified that the RPP is currently not part of any provincial governing coalition and has no immediate intention of joining one. The party said the responsibility for running provincial governments rests with the major parties, including the Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and the Nepali Communist Party (NCP).
The directive is particularly significant in Bagmati Province, where the UML and the NCP do not command a clear majority on their own and require the support of the RPP’s 12 provincial lawmakers to form a government.
Local RPP leaders had reportedly demanded three ministerial portfolios in exchange for supporting a UML-led government, while UML was said to be willing to offer two.
Several RPP lawmakers had recently met UML Chair KP Sharma Oli at his residence in Gundu and reportedly indicated support for UML chief ministerial aspirant Kiran Thapa.
However, the RPP’s latest decision effectively halts any formal negotiations until the party leadership makes a final decision on its role in the Bagmati government.
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