KATHMANDU: The unity agreement signed between the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) and the Ujyalo Nepal Party on December 29, 2025, has collapsed within just two weeks after talks between RSP Chair Rabi Lamichhane and former minister Kulman Ghising ended without any conclusion.
The two leaders held discussions on Friday and Saturday, but failed to resolve growing differences over the implementation of the unity deal, leading to its breakdown.
Ghising had entered negotiations with the RSP after resigning from three ministerial portfolios, including Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, following heavy criticism for his party’s participation in the Citizens’ Government led by Sushila Karki. Under the unity agreement reached on December 29 between Ghising, who is the patron of Ujyalo Nepal, and Rabi Lamichhane, Ghising was to be appointed vice-chair of the RSP.
However, the agreement soon ran into trouble as Ghising raised several demands. He insisted that the RSP change its ideological orientation from a democratic to a leftist party, adopt socialism as its official ideology, and form a 33-member central committee. He also demanded the post of senior vice-chair and one general secretary.
Although Sudan Gurung had facilitated the unity agreement, disputes over ideology, leadership positions and organisational structure quickly escalated, eventually derailing the merger.
Sources said Ghising had visited Lamichhane’s residence on Friday, asking for the agreement to be implemented and for him to be given responsibility as agreed. However, Lamichhane’s reluctance to provide a clear commitment reportedly angered Ghising, leading to the failure of Saturday’s decisive talks.
A leader close to Ghising said he had already made up his mind on Friday to leave the RSP after the talks broke down. After parting ways with the RSP, Ghising is now preparing to revive and actively lead the Ujyalo Nepal Party.
Ghising was also under pressure within his own party, as around 75 percent of Ujyalo Nepal’s leaders were opposed to merging with the RSP. He had raised serious objections over issues including the proportional representation list and central committee structure for the March 5 House of Representatives election, although Ujyalo Nepal’s proportional list has already been submitted to the Election Commission through the RSP.
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