Alternative parties under game theory

The Rabi Lamichhane saga has led many to believe that the Rastriya Swatantra Party is no different to traditional parties.

The emergence and popularity of alternative parties like the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) show voters’ desperate willingness to embrace newer parties. But Rabi Lamichhane’s recent attack on the free press and the recent tumultuous political developments highlight the fickle grounds on which alternative political parties base their standings. Despite promising an “alternative” to the “traditional” parties, their political infighting for cabinet seats, inability to challenge the old guards, and instead joining hands with the same parties after saying “No, Not Again”, the trajectory of many alternative parties shows how difficult it is for them to become a bonafide alternative political force. Many have questioned whether these newer parties can be called alternative as they demonstrate similar characteristics to older parties—led by a cult of a personality, un-inclusive structural organisation, and imbibing on a regressive and status-quo political agenda.