KATHMANDU, Nov 14: Former parliamentarian Santosh Pariyar has resigned from the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), following in the footsteps of former minister Sumana Shrestha. Pariyar, who served as the Chief Whip of the RSP parliamentary party in the dissolved House of Representatives, submitted his resignation to Party General Secretary Kabindra Burlakoti on Friday. In his resignation, he stated that he is leaving not only from party positions but also as a general member.
In his letter, Pariyar expressed gratitude for having been part of the RSP and for contributing, however modestly, to Nepalese society’s political transformation. He wrote, “While being a member of RSP, I made sincere efforts for the benefit of the party and the country.”
Pariyar was among those raising issues of leadership change and party reform in the aftermath of the Gen-Z protests on September 8 and 9. He had also expressed dissatisfaction over the party suffering damage after the party president, Rabi Lamichhane, was released from Nakkhu prison amid rallies. Furthermore, he advocated for a special general convention in December, citing the party’s inability to move forward under the current leadership. However, with Lamichhane and his faction dominating the party, Pariyar’s voice was largely unheard, and he faced increasing criticism.
Santosh Pariyar nominated for Dr Ambedkar International Award f...
Acknowledging these internal challenges, Pariyar wrote, “Continuously debating within the party without establishing my views, I take this as my own shortcoming. I am also saddened for not being able to shape the party’s ideology according to the unique characteristics of Nepali society.”
On the Gen-Z movement, he noted that it had “eradicated the traditional stagnation of Nepali politics,” proving that the current status quo is incapable of leading a new era. He emphasized that all political parties and leaders must now rethink Nepali politics more broadly. “The responsibility of restructuring political movements, redefining concepts, and reorganizing institutions rests on our generation,” he wrote.
For these reasons, Pariyar believes he must now engage in a “different kind of political campaign” that links genuine national interest with the lives of the people. He confirmed that, effective Friday, he holds no party position and is no longer a general member.
Pariyar thanked his colleagues in RSP for their support and cooperation over the years, stating that he looks forward to constructive collaboration in the future for nation-building and social transformation.
While he has not specified the exact nature of his new political campaign, sources indicate that he is in discussion with leader Janardan Sharma, who has recently formed the “Pragatisheel Rastriya Abhiyaan” after leaving the Maoist Centre.
-1770648553.webp)
