Rabi Lamichhane calls to shut down old parties through March 5 election

DHANGADHI: Chair of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, Rabi Lamichhane, has said voters should shut down all traditional political parties through the March 5 election.

Addressing a mass election assembly in Dhangadhi on Wednesday, Lamichhane urged the public to use the upcoming vote to end what he described as years of exploitation in Sudurpaschim.

“Using the rights of Sudurpaschim, they have exploited the region for years. Now this must stop,” he said. “This time, we must close all the shutters of the old parties at once. The practice of turning the same agenda into a vote bank for years must end in a single stroke.”

Lamichhane also said his party would put an end to what he termed the ritual of repeatedly listing public rights in election manifestos without delivering results.

“Now the system where people vote and then suffer the consequences themselves must end. Those who fail to fulfill their promises must be punished,” he said. “Elections have been held in this country before as well. Leaders always won, but the people never did. This time, the people must win.”

He added that the moment is not about personal or party ambitions, but about fulfilling the aspirations of citizens. “Please do not split your votes this time. I respect your loyalty. But when it is time to make a historic contribution to protect the nation’s existence, reconsider your vote,” he said. “I cannot predict what will happen to our party in the future. But let us walk together now to change history.”

Stating that he and Balen Shah have joined hands this time, Lamichhane vowed sweeping changes. “We will change issues like medical colleges and roads all at once. If Singha Durbar were to burn down, we would rebuild it — but first we must transform it,” he said.

He accused established leaders of threatening action against the poor while failing to address long-standing public concerns. “They may say they will run bulldozers over poor people’s homes. But let us ask them, who ran bulldozers over the dreams of the people for the past 35 years?” he remarked.

Lamichhane appealed to supporters not to divide their votes and to back the party’s election symbol, the bell, in both the first-past-the-post and proportional representation systems.

“Should we throw away disorder and corruption completely or only halfway? Vote for the bell in both systems,” he urged.