Several PM Shah camp leaders forgo race, likely to enter through nomination

RSP has deployed 75 electronic voting machines, with voting set to begin at 8:30 pm and results expected overnight.

Sixteen members aligned with Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s faction in the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) have opted out of the central committee election and are expected to enter the party leadership through nomination.

The group is part of 26 individuals from the Shah camp who joined the party following a pre-election understanding between RSP chair Rabi Lamichhane and Shah.

While some members, including elected lawmakers, have filed nominations for the ongoing internal elections, the rest have not registered their candidacies.

Those who did not file nominations include Sunil Lamsal, Bhoop Dev Shah, Laxman Tharu, Ramesh Paudel, Santosh Giri, Sarita Gyawali, James Karki, Laxmi Bardewa, Anantaraj Ghimire, Ramkumar Dhungana, Pradeep Gyawali, Madhusudan Dhakal, Ojaswi Thapa, Aditya Acharya, Pradeep Pandey and Khemraj Saud. Home Minister Sudan Gurung has also not registered his candidacy.

At a final meeting before the general convention, Lamichhane had said it would be unfair to require those who joined the party only months ago to compete with members who have been active for years.

A leader from the senior leader Shah faction said the decision was part of a unity arrangement.

“This is a convention of unity. We have not made separate claims as delegates. Under such circumstances, it has been agreed to induct members through nominations this time,” the leader said.

From the group, Lamsal has claimed the vice-chairman post, while Shah has shown interest in the general secretary position. Leaders say both are likely to be accommodated through the nomination quota.

Under the proposed statute, the central committee will have 136 members, including the party chair. Of them, 99 will be elected through the convention, while the remaining will be nominated by the party president.

Party leaders said the nomination quota is also expected to accommodate members integrated from the Bibeksheel Sajha and Tharuhat movements.

Lamichhane has already been elected unopposed as party head, while Prime Minister Shah is set to serve as senior leader.

Of the three vice-president posts, one is open, one reserved for a woman and one nominated. Leader Swarnim Wagle is seen as a strong contender for the open post.

With no challenger so far to Wagle, leaders say elections are likely for the woman vice-president, general secretary and joint general secretary posts, though efforts are ongoing to build consensus.

For the woman vice-chairperson post, Sobita Gautam, Lima Adhikari, Pratibha Rawal and Toshima Karki are being discussed as possible contenders.

If consensus is not reached for the open general secretary post, outgoing general secretary Kabindra Burlakoti, Bipin Acharya, Shishir Khanal, Manish Jha, Ganesh Parajuli and Yagyamani Neupane are likely to contest. Karki is also being considered if she does not enter the vice-chair race.

The party has expanded its office-bearer structure to 19 positions by amending its statute, up from 12 earlier.

The chairman will be the party chief, while a senior leader position has been created above the vice-chairpersons' tier.

There will be three vice-chairpersons, comprising one open post, one reserved for a woman, and one filled through nomination.

The general secretary position will have two posts, one open and one nominated, while the joint general secretary tier will consist of five members, including one woman representative and two nominated positions.

A spokesperson position will remain a single post, while the joint spokesperson structure will include three members, including one woman representative.

The treasurer position will be a single post, while two joint treasurers will be appointed, including one woman representative.

The election procedure for RSP central committee posts is underway at the general convention.

Voting is scheduled to begin at 8:30 pm, with 75 electronic voting machines deployed.

Jha said a single voter takes around 7 to 10 minutes to cast all ballots.

He added that the central election commission expects the voting process to take about four hours, with results likely within two hours after completion.