KATHMANDU: The first national convention of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is beginning in Chitwan today (Sunday). Party leaders and members from across the country have gathered in Chitwan to participate in the convention.
The convention, being held four years after the party’s formation, will also elect a new working committee.
RSP has assigned its Central Election Commission to oversee the convention’s administrative and legal affairs. The commission has also issued a four-point election code of conduct for the party’s first national convention.
According to the code of conduct, the first point outlines provisions related to candidacy and campaigning. It states that election campaigning is permitted only after candidacies have been officially verified. The formation of panels or factions is prohibited, and the distribution of joint candidate lists is not allowed.
The second point prohibits individuals holding positions in the party or government from influencing the fairness of the election through the use of state or party resources.
The third point sets out provisions related to voting procedures, while the fourth deals with complaints and disciplinary action.
As the first General Convention of RSP begins today, activity has intensified across Bharatpur, Chitwan. Party leaders, cadres, delegates, observers, and well-wishers have begun arriving for the convention.
According to RSP Central Secretariat member Deepak Bohara, the party has issued a circular urging participants to make necessary preparations considering the summer heat in Chitwan.
With traffic management expected to be challenging during the event, participants have been requested to minimize the use of private vehicles. Through social media, the party has also advised attendees to carry drinking water, umbrellas, and light clothing.
Bohara said more than 3,000 delegates are expected to participate in the convention, in addition to a large number of cadres and well-wishers.
RSP Central Committee member and accommodation and food management coordinator Rajan Gautam said party leaders and cadres have been arriving in Chitwan from districts across the country. In coordination with local hotel and accommodation entrepreneurs, affordable room rates have been arranged and communicated to participants.
According to Gautam, around 80 percent of delegates and observers have already secured accommodation. It is estimated that more than 3,000 hotel rooms in Chitwan will be occupied during the convention.
Hotels in Chitwan have announced special discounts for convention delegates and observers. The Hotel Entrepreneurs Association Chitwan and the Regional Hotel Association Chitwan have agreed to offer a 25 percent discount on accommodation and up to 10 percent off food and beverages. Delegates will bear their own accommodation expenses.
German hangar installed to shield participants from sun and rain
With summer temperatures rising in Bharatpur, organizers have installed a German hangar at the convention venue to protect participants from intense heat and possible rainfall.
A 30,000-square-foot German hangar has been erected at Guest House Chowk in Bharatpur to accommodate delegates, observers, leaders, and party workers.
According to Shreejal Bhattarai, Managing Director of Media Space Solutions, a roofed hangar measuring 20 feet wide and 75 feet long has been installed in the center, with additional hangars measuring 20 by 30 feet on either side. The central structure stands 24 feet high, while the side sections are 14 feet high.
Bhattarai said the setup can accommodate up to 15,000 people. Additional pagoda-style canopy tents will be installed in surrounding open areas.
Around 2,000 chairs will be placed inside the hangar, primarily for women, senior citizens, and people requiring assistance. The remaining attendees will be accommodated in the open square. Four LED screens will also be installed to facilitate viewing.
Describing the structure, Bhattarai said the German hangar is a temporary but highly durable tent system. “The hangar is built with an aluminum framework and a tensile-fabric roof,” he said, adding that it is fire-resistant and designed to withstand sunlight, rain, and wind.
According to RSP Central Committee member Rajan Gautam, around 30,000 people are expected to attend the inaugural session. Separate parking arrangements have been made for attendees arriving on the opening day.
Rameshwor Poudel, Chief Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office, Chitwan, said vehicles arriving from the eastern region will be parked at the Central Bus Terminal, while vehicles from other areas will be directed to parking spaces near the bypass road adjacent to Birendra Multiple Campus.
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