KATHMANDU, Nov 7: The Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has decided not to look for an immediate replacement for its party chairman, Rabi Lamichhane, who is currently in judicial custody over a cooperative fraud case.
Acting party chief DP Aryal, presenting the political report at the RSP’s expanded central committee meeting in Chitwan on Friday, said the party will not seek an alternative to Lamichhane at this stage. He stressed that the current political context demands consolidating leadership rather than replacing it.
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Aryal cautioned that bringing in high-profile figures under the name of “reform” and giving them leadership roles could weaken the party. “This is not the time to displace leadership but to strengthen it,” he said, adding that the party is still in its formation phase, unlike older political parties.
He remarked that targeted attempts to undermine core leadership could harm both the party and public trust. While supporting internal reforms and the induction of capable individuals, Aryal made it clear that using reform as a pretext to “import new leaders” was unacceptable.
Lamichhane is currently in prison under judicial review in connection with the Supreme Cooperative fraud case. Some central members had been urging a restructuring of party leadership during his absence.
Aryal also indicated that the party’s General Convention is unlikely to be held on the earlier scheduled date, citing the upcoming House of Representatives election set for March 5 as the priority. He said the next date for the convention could be fixed only after election certainty.
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