KATHMANDU, Dec 29: The Ujyaalo Nepal Party, backed by Kulman Ghising, has agreed to merge with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), with Ghising set to assume the role of senior vice-chairperson.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between RSP Chairperson Rabi Lamichhane and Ghising on Monday, marking a major step in unifying new political forces. Under the deal, Ghising will hold second-ranked status as Senior Vice-Chairperson, while the post of RSP General Secretary will be filled by a member from Ujyaalo Nepal Party.
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The two parties have reached consensus on central committee members and candidate allocation for the upcoming elections. They have agreed to move forward as a single party. For now, the united party will remain the Rastriya Swatantra Party, but during election campaigns, banners will display both Ujyaalo Nepal and Rastriya Swatantra Party, according to RSP leaders.
The merger was finalized just before the submission of Proportional Representation (PR) lists to the Election Commission. Earlier, bilateral and trilateral talks, including those involving Kathmandu Mayor Balen Shah had failed to reach an agreement. Both parties were initially preparing to submit separate lists, but last-minute negotiations led to the decision to submit a single, unified list.
This unification brings together three emerging political forces that had mobilized to challenge the entrenched dominance of traditional parties. The day before, Balen Shah’s group had merged with the RSP, and earlier, the Bibeksheel Sajha Party had also joined the RSP. Leaders from the Gen-Z movement had similarly entered the RSP, reflecting the consolidation of political, moral, and material support for these groups.
Gen-Z activists had long advocated for the three forces to unite ahead of the elections, recognizing that contesting separately would be insufficient to break the hold of older parties. While other alternative parties have also emerged post-Gen-Z movement, this merger represents the most significant consolidation of emerging political forces ahead of the polls.
