KATHMANDU: The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which has already completed ward-, municipal-, and district-level conventions in most parts of the country, is beginning its provincial conventions from today.
The party will kick off the process by inaugurating the Bagmati Province Convention in Hetauda, the provincial capital. Preparations have been completed for the event, which will be held at Himalayan Palace.
RSP Chair Rabi Lamichhane is scheduled to inaugurate the convention. Provincial conventions in the remaining provinces will be held in the coming days.
Two contenders have emerged for the post of Bagmati Province president. Incumbent provincial president Dr. Achyuttam Lamichhane is seeking re-election to the post.
Lamichhane said the new leadership would be elected through a democratic process. “I have heard that other colleagues have also expressed interest. There will be an election,” he said.
Lamichhane has served as the Bagmati Province president of the RSP since the party’s establishment.
Another aspirant for the presidency is Utsav Aryal, who currently serves as the spokesperson of the Bagmati Province Committee. According to a member of the party’s central department, preparations are underway for both sides to field panels in the election.
For the post of vice-president, Dr. Ramesh Dhakal is considered a likely candidate. Dhakal, who is associated with the provincial health department, is also the director of Shankharapur Hospital.
Another contender for the vice-presidential post is Menuka Thakuri, according to provincial leaders of the party.
Surendra Bhatta is seeking re-election as general secretary. Bhatta said that he is a candidate for the position he currently holds.
According to the party statute, the size of provincial committees varies from province to province. The Bagmati Province Committee is set to have 65 members.
The statute provides for one president, one vice-president, and one general secretary. It also includes two joint general secretaries, who must be of different genders. Other office-bearers include a treasurer and a spokesperson.
If elections are required, the party has adopted a two-phase voting process. In the first phase, delegates will elect the president and provincial committee members. In the second phase, delegates will elect the remaining office-bearers from among the elected provincial committee members.
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