Manish Jha takes swipe at rivals withdrawing from general secretary race

CHITWAN: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) spokesperson Manish Jha has criticized candidates who withdrew from the race for general secretary to back rival candidate Bipin Kumar Acharya, saying strong political leaders do not abandon contests midway.

Jha, regarded as one of the leading contenders for the general secretary post, made the remarks after several candidates withdrew their nominations in support of Acharya ahead of the party’s office-bearer election.

“You should not practice such immature politics. You file your candidacy one night and withdraw it the next?” Jha said.

“Those who have the courage to practice strong politics stay in the race regardless of the outcome. They continue to fight,” he added.

His comments appeared to target leaders Pramod Neupane, Ganesh Parajuli and Kabindra Burlakoti, all of whom withdrew from the contest to support Acharya, who is widely seen as being backed by party chair Rabi Lamichhane.

Earlier, another candidate, Jagdish Kharel of Lalitpur, had also announced his withdrawal from the race.

Voting for the party’s office-bearers is currently underway as delegates elect the new leadership at the RSP’s first general convention.