JHAPA: While Rabi Lamichhane, Chair of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), continues his campaign across Jhapa, senior party leader Balendra Shah has been concentrating his efforts in Sunsari, raising speculation about a possible rift in the party.
Lamichhane, who had been recovering from a leg injury sustained during a rally in Janakpur on January 19, was previously silent in campaigning while Shah traveled across the country, covering districts from Jhapa to Kanchanpur and Bajura. With his recovery, Lamichhane was seen campaigning alone in Jhapa on Tuesday.
While Lamichhane toured constituencies Jhapa-1 through Jhapa-5, Shah remained in Itahari, Sunsari. Reports indicate that during Lamichhane’s visit to Jhapa-5 to support RSP candidates challenging CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli, Shah was not present, having already returned to Sunsari. Lamichhane reportedly toured areas in a vehicle with supporters, including Nisha Dandi, ahead of Shah’s arrival in Jhapa.
Although both leaders are scheduled to address a formal mass rally in Itahari on Tuesday, Shah has not joined Lamichhane in Jhapa’s various constituencies. Lamichhane has continued door-to-door campaigning across all RSP constituencies in Jhapa and traveled from Morang to Sunsari to support candidates.
Observers note that while Lamichhane and Shah appeared together at a Dhangadhi rally on February 18 and unveiled the party’s election manifesto in Surkhet on February 19, their campaign paths have since diverged. Shah reportedly flew from Surkhet to Kathmandu citing travel convenience, while Lamichhane continued by road through Banke to Dang.
Following his return from Kathmandu, Shah resumed campaign activities in Jhapa but primarily focused on western constituencies and Koshi Tappu areas in Sunsari. Meanwhile, Lamichhane led campaigns solo across Jhapa-1 to Jhapa-5.
RSP officials confirmed that both leaders will address the mass rally in Itahari later on Tuesday, marking a convergence of the party’s campaigning efforts after days of separate routes.
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