KATHMANDU: Internal disputes within the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) have resurfaced after a section of senior leaders boycotted the party’s Central Committee meeting held in Kathmandu on Friday.
The meeting, which was taking place at Surya Catering in Dhumbaraahi, has seen the absence of several prominent leaders, further exposing divisions within the party following recent political developments.
Party leaders said the tensions had temporarily eased after Dhawal Shamsher Rana left to form a new party and aligned himself with Durga Prasai. Former senior leader Rabindra Mishra has also distanced himself from active politics following the disappointing results of the March 5 elections.
However, dissatisfaction within the party leadership has now re-emerged, with multiple senior figures refusing to participate in the meeting.
Former party chairpersons Pashupati Shamsher JBR, Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani, and Kamal Thapa, along with vice-chairman Bikram Pandey and general secretary Kunti Shahi, boycotted the meeting.
Similarly, members of the party’s working committee, including Arjun Rai, Haribahadur Basnet, assistant spokesperson Prabin Thokar, assistant general secretaries Prem Bahadur Raiyar and Rishi Devkota, and co-general secretary Rina Gurung, also stayed away from the meeting.
Those who boycotted the meeting said the decision was made in protest after individuals who are not central committee members were reportedly allowed to participate in the meeting, raising concerns over internal party procedures and discipline.
The developments have once again highlighted deepening factional tensions within the RPP leadership.
Comment