Q&A: Why abolishing provincial assemblies isn’t as simple as RSP thinks

Constitutional expert Purna Man Shakya weighs in on the legal and democratic implications of the RSP’s sweeping proposed constitutional reforms.

As the Rastriya Swatantra Party continues to challenge Nepal’s established political order, its aggressive push for sweeping constitutional amendments has triggered a national debate. From advocating for a directly elected executive to proposing the outright abolition of provincial assemblies, the young party’s vision promises rapid efficiency but raises profound questions about the future of the country’s federal structure. Critics argue these proposals ignore the rigid legal safeguards of the 2015 constitution, while proponents see them as the only way out of chronic political instability.