KATHMANDU: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane and Deputy Chair and Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle met at a resort in Kavre on Saturday, sparking speculation over the purpose of their meeting.
Lamichhane, accompanied by his wife Nikita Poudel Lamichhane, visited Dusit Thani Himalayan Resort in Dhulikhel, while Wagle arrived separately with leaders close to him.
Although the two leaders reached the resort at different times, they reportedly held a lengthy discussion. Wagle is said to have invested in the resort, and party leaders have described the visit as a weekend family outing.
However, some RSP leaders believe the meeting may also have included discussions on the country’s evolving political situation and developments within the government.
“A visit to a resort in which Swarnim Dai has invested, along with their families during a public holiday, is not unusual. The party chair was also there with his family,” a leader close to Wagle said. “It would not be surprising if the two leaders also discussed the government and the current political situation. They have been in regular communication in Kathmandu as well.”
The meeting comes amid speculation within the party that Prime Minister Balendra Shah is considering changes to his Cabinet, with reports suggesting Wagle’s position as finance minister could come under review. Some party leaders have claimed that Bidushi Rana and Sushant Vaidik are being discussed as possible alternatives, although no official confirmation has been made.
A source close to Lamichhane dismissed the speculation, saying reports that the prime minister is looking for a replacement for Wagle are “meaningless” and that a cabinet reshuffle is not an immediate issue.
By Saturday evening, Lamichhane had left the resort, while Wagle was preparing to return to Kathmandu. Members of the finance minister’s secretariat said Wagle was outside the Valley on official ministry work but did not confirm that he was in Kavre.
Meanwhile, both ruling party sources and the Prime Minister’s Secretariat denied reports that Prime Minister Balendra Shah had planned to visit the resort. The secretariat said the prime minister had no such schedule and had not met party leaders there.
According to party sources, Shah had met Lamichhane at the latter’s Budhanilkantha residence last Tuesday, where discussions reportedly included Wagle’s role in the government. Some leaders believe that issue was also discussed during Saturday’s meeting at the Kavre resort.
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