KATHMANDU, June 20: As the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) prepares to hold its first-ever National General Convention in Chitwan from Sunday, the party has introduced a stringent election code of conduct aimed at ensuring a fair and faction-free leadership contest.
Leaders, delegates and party workers from across the country have already begun arriving in Chitwan for the landmark gathering, which comes four years after the party's formation and is expected to shape its future organisational and political direction.
The convention will elect a new executive committee, marking a significant milestone for a party that has rapidly emerged as a major political force since entering Nepal's political landscape.
RSP hatching strategy to end Balen’s politics from Jhapa: UML J...
In a move intended to reinforce internal democracy, the party's Central Election Commission has issued a four-point election code of conduct governing the leadership race.
One of the most notable provisions prohibits candidates from forming panels or engaging in factional politics. The code bars the distribution of joint candidate lists and allows election campaigning only after candidacies have been formally verified. The measures appear aimed at preventing bloc politics and encouraging individual competition based on merit and policy agendas.
The code also seeks to ensure a level playing field by prohibiting individuals holding responsibilities in either the party or government from using state or party resources to influence the outcome of the election. The provision reflects the party's attempt to distance itself from practices often criticised in Nepal's traditional political parties, where access to power and resources can tilt internal contests.
The remaining provisions deal with voting procedures, complaint mechanisms and disciplinary actions for violations of the code.
The convention is being closely watched not only because it will elect the party's first full-fledged leadership through a national convention, but also because it will provide an indication of how the RSP intends to institutionalise itself amid growing public expectations and expanding organisational responsibilities.
As delegates prepare to cast their votes, the party's emphasis on transparency, internal competition and non-factional leadership selection is likely to be one of the defining themes of the convention.
