CHITWAN: The first general convention of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) underway in Chitwan has been overshadowed by growing controversy surrounding the ongoing internal elections, with allegations of irregularities emerging even before the official announcement of results.
Out of a total of 4,311 convention representatives, only 2,959 cast their votes in the election for central committee members, while 1,352 delegates reportedly did not participate in the voting process.
The convention, held in Bharatpur, has been described by participants as poorly managed, with confusion persisting even over the final list of representatives prior to the election.
Allegations have also surfaced regarding the electronic voting system, with some candidates claiming that the system was manipulated. It has been noted that the name of Swarnim Wagle appeared at the top of the voting list, raising concerns among contestants.
A total of 384 candidates are competing for 99 central committee positions. However, questions have been raised about the arrangement of names in the electronic voting machine, which was reportedly developed by Ram-Laxman Khanal of Nuwakot.
Candidates have objected that the list was neither arranged alphabetically nor based on party hierarchy, allegedly making it difficult for voters to identify candidates efficiently. Critics say the ordering could disadvantage candidates listed later.
Several contestants, including Ashika Tamang and Jwala Sangroula, have publicly raised concerns about discrepancies in how their names were displayed in the system.
According to representatives, internal factions attempted to circulate different candidate lists, despite the party’s claim that factional politics would be discouraged.
The convention, originally scheduled to conclude in three days, has already been extended, with proceedings still incomplete after five days. Participants have also pointed to administrative weaknesses and lack of coordination in the management of the event.
Despite the party’s projection as a technology-friendly and youth-driven political force, attendees have criticized its organizational capacity, saying the convention has exposed significant management shortcomings.
Although party chair Rabi Lamichhane had already been elected unopposed earlier, internal disputes over representation, candidate lists and voting arrangements have continued to dominate the convention.
Several leaders accused rival factions of distributing informal “vote slips” to influence outcomes, despite the party’s stated policy against factional groupings.
Candidates including Yagya Mani Neupane and Deepak Bohora also expressed dissatisfaction over candidate categorization and placement in the voting system.
Lawmaker Ashika Tamang said she was initially listed at number 37 during nomination but was later placed at number 106 in the voting machine, blaming the election committee for the discrepancy.
She said she expected a transparent process similar to formal elections but instead found confusion and alleged media misrepresentation surrounding the event.
With accusations of mismanagement and internal manipulation growing louder, the convention—intended to elect 99 central committee members from 384 candidates—has become a focal point of internal party tensions.
Many participants have taken to social media to allege coordinated efforts to influence the election outcome, despite the party’s claim of rejecting factional politics.
Observers say the ongoing controversy has cast a shadow over what was intended to be a showcase of the party’s internal democratic process.
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