KATHMANDU, Aug 12: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Chair Rabi Lamichhane has warned that another “September 8” could emerge if the party fails to deliver results and live up to the responsibilities entrusted to it by the people.
Speaking at an RSP event at the Nepal Tourism Board to mark International Youth Day on Wednesday, Lamichhane said the performance of young leaders would determine whether the recent political shift strengthens or undermines public faith in younger generations taking charge of politics.
He cautioned that failure by young leaders could fuel a narrative that politics cannot be successfully led by young or inexperienced people.
“September 6 and 7 last year were fine. The government had a two-thirds majority and two powerful parties were in government. Who could challenge it? Then September 8 arrived overnight,” Lamichhane said, referring to the Gen Z-led protests of September 2025.
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He said the RSP must counter any such narrative through its performance, warning that failure to do so could quickly push the country toward another political reckoning.
“If, for any reason, we fail to fulfil our responsibilities, within a few years a narrative could emerge that young people cannot do politics simply because they want to, and that politics is not possible without experienced people,” he said.
Lamichhane said young leaders themselves would be the biggest victims if such a perception took hold, particularly because they had played a key role in bringing about the political change.
He urged young leaders not to celebrate merely because they had reached positions of power, saying the real achievement would be turning that opportunity into tangible results for the people.
“If the opportunity we have received is converted into results, that is when we should celebrate,” he said.
Lamichhane also warned that a renewed perception that political leadership requires age, maturity and long experience could carry serious consequences for the country’s political future.
His remarks came as the RSP seeks to demonstrate that a younger generation can not only challenge the established political order but also govern effectively once entrusted with power.
