KATHMANDU: CPN-UML leader Yogesh Bhattarai has said the rise of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) was rooted in the failures of established political parties and the incompetence of their top leaders.
Sharing his views on social media, Bhattarai said the weaknesses of established parties including the CPN-UML, Nepali Congress and CPN (Maoist Centre) provided the main ground for the RSP’s political rise.
He said the RSP achieved significant political success by promoting figures such as Rabi Lamichhane and Balendra Shah (Balen) as leaders, but failed to establish a clear ideology, principles, policies and class and social base necessary to build a sustainable political party.
Bhattarai argued that this failure has now marked the beginning of the RSP’s “journey downhill.”
He said the RSP and its leaders, who once appeared to enjoy testing others, are now facing their own difficult test.
According to Bhattarai, politics of revenge and retaliation against opponents inside and outside the party cannot provide a basis for retaining leadership or prolonging a government.
He also warned that established parties would be making a mistake if they viewed the RSP’s weakening position as an opportunity to restore their own leadership and political influence.
Bhattarai said it would be a serious political mistake if established parties again failed to review their past weaknesses, rebuild their declining class and social base, and continued to conceal weaknesses in their leadership.
He stressed the need for serious internal discussions on rebuilding party policy, ideology and organization.
He also cautioned against treating popularity and crowds of supporters as the sole source of political strength while hiding problems and weaknesses “under the carpet.”
Bhattarai said established parties should not become complacent over the RSP’s current situation but should instead identify their own weaknesses and focus on political, ideological and organizational reconstruction.
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