KATHMANDU: The Rastriya Swatantra Party has handed over key parliamentary positions to opposition parties despite securing 182 seats in Parliament—just two short of a two-thirds majority.
The party has already allocated the Deputy Speaker position to the Shram Sanskriti Party. It has also given the chairmanship of the Public Accounts Committee to the main opposition, signalling an effort to maintain a balance of power.
Political analyst Shyam Shrestha said the party’s approach of cooperating with opposition forces while maintaining institutional balance has helped create optimism among citizens and emphasise transparent politics.
However, Shrestha noted that it would be premature to conclude that the party has accomplished everything it promised. “Still, the current practice shows that the party is trying to maintain a balance of power,” he said.
According to him, the new political force appears to have demonstrated democratic culture by providing opportunities that opposition parties traditionally receive in parliamentary practice.
“They seem to be trying to reflect the commitments they made regarding good governance, transparency and accountability,” he said, adding that a broader assessment of the government’s performance would require more time.
He also stated that while there may be room to question the working style of some ministers, including the home minister, the overall functioning of the government appears satisfactory so far.
Past controversy over Public Accounts Committee
The debate over granting the Public Accounts Committee chair to the opposition dates back to the government formed on July 1, 2024 following a seven-point agreement between Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) and Nepali Congress.
At the time, the coalition government led by Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli faced criticism for not handing the committee leadership to the opposition.
Then opposition parties, including the Rastriya Swatantra Party, Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) and CPN (Unified Socialist), had repeatedly demanded that the chair be given to the opposition in line with parliamentary tradition.
However, the government did not replace then committee chair Rishikesh Pokharel despite pressure and controversy surrounding his alleged involvement in a cooperative fraud case.
Opposition parties had continued to warn that decisions made by the committee under his leadership could involve conflicts of interest.
Nepali Congress lawmaker elected PAC chair
In contrast, the current RSP-led government has voluntarily handed the leadership of the powerful Public Accounts Committee to the main opposition.
Bharat Khadka from the Nepali Congress has already been elected chair of the committee.
Analysts say the move signals a commitment to transparency, accountability and democratic balance, as the committee plays a key role in investigating government spending irregularities and corruption.
Party General Secretary Kavindra Burlakoti said the party intends to strengthen transparent and balanced democratic practices and will not act beyond established rules.
Experts appointed to lead other committees
The RSP has also fielded candidates for nine of the 10 parliamentary committee chair positions, with the Public Accounts Committee left for the opposition.
Most of the party’s lawmakers appointed as committee chairs are considered knowledgeable in their respective fields.
According to sources close to Prime Minister Balen Shah, some leaders had expressed interest in the positions. However, the final selection was made after discussions between the prime minister and party chair Rabi Lamichhane, prioritising expertise and ideological clarity.
The parliamentary party later endorsed the appointments unanimously.
Among those appointed are Samiksha Baskota, who has long worked in legal and human rights fields; Ashok Chaudhary; and Ashish Gajurel.
Similarly, Ojaswi Sherchan has experience in the education sector, while Hari Dhakal has been active in raising issues related to governance.
Other committee chairs include Aakriti Awasthi, Bodhanarayan Shrestha, Ganesh Karki and Sumnima Tuladhar.
Economist Krishna Hari Budhathoki, who holds a PhD in economics, has been appointed to lead the Finance Committee, while Rabar Ansari will head the committee related to industry and labour issues.
According to General Secretary Kavindra Burlakoti, the appointments were made after careful study and assessment of each individual’s expertise and capability, and the party is confident they will carry out their responsibilities effectively.
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