KATHMANDU: The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has yet to finalize its candidate for deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, even as multiple opposition parties have laid claim to the post.
RSP Vice President Dol Prasad Aryal has already been appointed Speaker. However, senior party leaders say discussions on the deputy speaker position are still ongoing, with three opposition parties actively lobbying for the role.
According to RSP General Secretary Kabindra Burlakoti, the party has not yet entered formal deliberations on the matter. “The Speaker has just been appointed today, and we have not had the opportunity to move into discussions on the deputy speaker. Talks are ongoing with opposition parties,” he said, adding that the process will now move forward.
Party insiders say the deputy speaker position is being sought by the Nepali Communist Party under Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the Shram Sanskriti Party led by Harka Sampang, and the Rastriya Prajatantra Party headed by Rajendra Lingden. Second-tier leaders from these parties have already initiated preliminary discussions with RSP representatives.
A senior RSP leader said that while all three parties have staked their claim, neither the Nepali Congress nor the CPN-UML has formally entered the discussion.
“The authority to finalize the decision has been entrusted to the party chair and the prime minister,” the leader said, noting that a conclusive meeting has yet to take place.
Decision likely by top leaders
Leaders indicate that the final decision will likely be taken after a meeting between Prime Minister Balen Shah, RSP Chair Rabi Lamichhane, and Speaker Aryal.
“There are differing views within the party,” a leader close to the prime minister said. “One view is to give the position to the Shram Sanskriti Party to consolidate an alternative political force. Another suggests offering it to the NCP to ease cooperation in the National Assembly. There is also support for giving it to the Rastriya Prajatantra Party.”
The same leader added that Sampang has strongly lobbied for the position, and both the prime minister and party chair are somewhat open to the idea. However, internal discussions are ongoing, with some leaders favoring NCP or RPP candidates depending on broader political consensus.
Prachanda steps up engagement
Meanwhile, Pushpa Kamal Dahal has also intensified efforts, engaging in dialogue with RSP leaders over the deputy speaker position. Though no direct meeting has taken place between Dahal and Lamichhane, second-tier leaders have been mobilized.
Sources say discussions have already been held between Burlakoti and NCP leader Barshaman Pun. NCP leaders have reportedly assured support on national issues if their candidate is selected.
Dahal is said to be backing Balwati Sharma, wife of former lawmaker Devendra Dahal, as a potential candidate. The Rastriya Prajatantra Party has proposed Khushbu Oli, while the Shram Sanskriti Party is considering candidates including Rubi Kumari Thakur and Radhika Ramtel.
No decisive talks yet
RPP parliamentary party leader Gyanendra Shahi said no decisive-level talks have taken place so far. “We have conveyed our position informally, but there has been no meaningful discussion at a decision-making level,” he said.
Similarly, Shram Sanskriti Party lawmaker Dhruv Rai said it is natural for his party to stake a claim, but acknowledged that a final decision will depend on top-level negotiations.
NCP leader Pun has also publicly maintained that his party’s claim to the deputy speaker position is justified. Sources say Dahal has instructed party leaders to actively pursue negotiations on the matter.
With multiple contenders and internal divisions within RSP, the race for deputy speaker remains open, pending a high-level political consensus.
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