More to RSP’s underage membership than meets the eye

The RSP’s digital records have exposed what traditional politics have long kept off the books.

A revelation during the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party’s (RSP) first general convention in Chitwan has ignited a necessary, albeit complex, debate on the boundaries of political mobilisation in Nepal. The disclosure that 35,257 individuals under the age of 18 are currently listed as party members is a matter that demands both rigorous legal scrutiny and a nuanced understanding of an evolving political landscape. While the opposition, led by the Nepali Congress, has been quick to demand a formal probe, it is essential to look beyond the immediate partisan friction to examine the systemic challenges of youth engagement in Nepali politics.