CHITWAN: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) leader and Prime Minister’s adviser Asim Shah has dismissed speculation about the existence of factions within the party, saying the issue was settled when senior leader and Prime Minister Balen Shah proposed the candidacy of party chair Rabi Lamichhane.
Speaking to journalists at the party’s general convention venue, Shah said RSP remains united and free from internal groupings.
“There are no factions or groups within the Rastriya Swatantra Party. When the Prime Minister himself became the proposer of the party chair, all discussions about factions ended there,” he said. “There is simply no question of factional politics in the party.”
Shah, who also serves as coordinator of the Constitution Amendment Task Force, said constitutional amendments would be pursued on the basis of national consensus.
“Every political party has its own views. Once we prepare a discussion paper, we will move forward accordingly,” he said. “We aim to prepare a constitutional amendment discussion paper within the next 100 days.”
Responding to questions about whether proposals related to the abolition of provincial assemblies indicated a move toward dismantling federalism, Shah said the task force was consulting a broad range of stakeholders before reaching any conclusions.
“While preparing the discussion paper, we are listening to everyone. We have been consulting former presidents, former prime ministers, and other stakeholders,” he said. “A national consensus will emerge from that process. It is too early to say that any particular proposal has already been finalized.”
His remarks come amid growing debate over federalism and provincial structures following discussions at RSP’s first general convention in Chitwan.
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