KATHMANDU: A surge of defections has rocked the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) ahead of the upcoming March 5 elections, with leaders and cadres accusing the party leadership of discrimination in candidate selection and financial irregularities.
From ward to central level, leaders and activists have been quitting the party in quick succession. Most of those leaving have joined the Nepali Congress, dealing a blow to RSP’s election campaign.
The wave of dissatisfaction began after Dr. Pranay Shumsher Rana resigned from the party on February 12. Rana, who had secured third place for RSP in Kathmandu Constituency No. 5 during the 2022 House of Representatives elections, accused the party of manipulating its internal ‘primary’ election process.
He alleged that although Rs 25,000 was collected as a fee under the pretext of holding primaries, candidates were ultimately selected by bypassing due process citing special circumstances.
“Initially, the party’s slogan was good governance and accountability. But the narrative of ending disorder and establishing order has turned upside down,” Rana said, adding that his conscience did not allow him to remain a silent spectator to irregularities.
He further claimed that despite assurances of 10 percent representation for the diaspora, no such inclusion was reflected in the final closed list, calling it a “scam.” Rana joined Nepali Congress two weeks after quitting RSP.
Resignations spread from Nuwakot to Nawalparasi
In Nuwakot, leader Ashok Kumar Thapa announced his resignation on Sunday, expressing dissatisfaction over internal party activities and alleging that those involved in building the organization were sidelined.
Similarly, in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta West), Susta Rural Municipality Vice-Chair Gupsen Thakuri and Bardaghat Municipality–13 Chair Jeet Bahadur Harijan have left the party.
Internal tensions escalated in Nawalparasi Susta West–1 after Vikram Khanal, who had joined from Nepali Congress, was fielded as a candidate. Mahendra Sen (Thakuri), who had secured 12,499 votes in the previous election from the same constituency, was reportedly aspiring for the ticket. Party insiders say the decision to nominate Khanal despite Sen’s previous strong performance triggered the rebellion.
Crisis in Kailali, Bara and Bagmati
In Kailali, Ishwari Bista, founding municipal chair of Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City, resigned from even his general membership ahead of the elections.
In Bara, Organization Department Chief Pawan Chaudhary quit the party on Falgun 8. Chaudhary, who had contested from Bara Constituency–4 in the 2022 elections and was again seeking a ticket, expressed dissatisfaction over the candidate selection process.
District Chair Chandan Swarnakar said Chaudhary had paid Rs 25,000 to participate in the internal primary, but resigned after the final candidate selection allegedly violated party procedures.
Chaudhary had received the highest number of votes among RSP’s 25 candidates in Madhesh Province in the last election. His exit from Bara–4, considered a stronghold of the Chaudhary community, is expected to alter the electoral equation.
Bagmati Province Vice-Chair Dinesh Humagain also resigned, alleging moral deviation in the leadership and claiming that lower-level cadres were treated “like servants.” He accused the party of failing to disclose accounts of membership and candidate application fees.
Meanwhile, Mamata Sharma, founding provincial chair of Madhesh Province, left the party on February 18 and joined Nepali Congress. She was welcomed at a public event in Janakpur by Nepali Congress President Gagan Thapa. Sharma said she decided to quit after witnessing what she described as the growing dominance of tainted individuals within RSP.
Central Finance Department member Dinesh Acharya has also resigned, citing lack of transparency and accountability. He questioned the speech style of party chair Rabi Lamichhane, alleging that expressions driven by anger and vengeance were undermining the party’s ideological foundation.
In Makwanpur, district chair Bharat Parajuli rejoined Nepali Congress on Monday. He was formally welcomed into the party by Gagan Kumar Thapa at a program in Sarlahi. Parajuli criticized what he described as the growing influence of a limited circle of individuals, sycophancy, and weakening internal democracy within RSP.
The string of resignations comes at a time when RSP is intensifying its nationwide election campaign. However, the steady outflow of leaders across provinces has cast uncertainty over the party’s organizational strength ahead of the polls.
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