CHITWAN, June 21: The preparations for the first general convention of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) have been completed. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday evening, RSP spokesperson Manish Jha said that most of the logistical arrangements needed to ensure an organized and representative convention, which begins today in Chitwan, have been finalized. The convention, to be held at the Guest House Ground in Bharatpur, will be inaugurated by party President Rabi Lamichhane and Prime Minister and senior party leader Balen Shah.
According to Jha, the process of selecting delegates from district committees, provincial units, and overseas contact committees has been completed. Arrangements related to the venue, accommodation, transportation, security, and volunteer mobilization have also been finalized.
“RSP had formed 18 sub committees to divide convention related responsibilities. Delegate selection is almost complete,” Jha said. “Political, financial, organizational, and statute related reports have been prepared. The Central Committee meeting held in Chitwan on Saturday has already endorsed amendments to the party statute that will be presented at the convention.”
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The Central Committee meeting in Bharatpur also approved changes to the party’s organizational structure. The Secretariat has proposed expanding the Central Committee to 151 members through amendments to the statute. The meeting also decided to ensure women’s representation in party leadership positions, including among office bearers and senior leaders.
“The Central Committee has amended the statute,” said Ganesh Parajuli, a Secretariat member and member of the Statute Amendment Committee. “It has decided to expand the Central Committee to 151 members, including provincial chairpersons as ex officio members.”
RSP currently has 121 Central Committee members. Under the proposed structure, the party will have one president, one senior leader, three vice presidents, including one woman, two general secretaries, five joint general secretaries, including one woman, one spokesperson, three joint spokespersons, including one woman, one treasurer, and two deputy treasurers, including one woman. The current statute does not mandate women’s representation in party offices. After the amendment, at least one woman will be required in the positions of vice president, joint general secretary, joint spokesperson, and deputy treasurer.
The revised statute also proposes that the party president appoint 51 of the 151 Central Committee members. Parajuli said discussions have also been held on allowing the president to appoint one vice president, one general secretary, two joint general secretaries, the treasurer, and the spokesperson to facilitate broader political integration. The remaining 99 Central Committee members will be elected through open competition.
Appointed Central Committee members will be selected on the basis of inclusion. The statute requires each province to be represented by five Central Committee members, including at least one woman.
Jha said the party leadership has prioritized organizational strengthening, determining future political strategies, and electing a new leadership team through the convention. He added that delegates will hold extensive discussions on statute amendments, policy proposals, and current political issues.
The convention is expected to set the party’s future direction while strengthening organizational expansion and public outreach. Jha said the party considers the votes it received in elections as its “political capital.”
“We have included provisions in the statute to expand the party organization down to the neighborhood level,” he said. “However, we will not have sister organizations.”
A total of 3,918 delegates will participate in the convention. Among them, RSP’s two general secretaries have been authorized to nominate 300 delegates. The party has reached 500,000 members.
According to Secretariat member Hari Dhakal, conventions have already been completed in 610 local governments and 4,063 wards. Delegates have also been selected through conventions held in 64 districts across six provinces. Representatives from Madhesh Province and 13 districts where elections are yet to be held have been sent through ad hoc committees, Dhakal said.
