RSP leadership appointments delayed amid internal consultations

More than a week after electing its new leadership, Nepal's Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has yet to finalize its organizational structure, with internal consultations continuing over the nomination of 51 central committee members and 12 key office-bearer positions.

Rabi Lamichhane, who was re-elected unopposed as party chair, took the oath of office on June 26 and administered oaths to newly elected members on July 1. However, the party statute requires a central committee of 158 members, including 150 elected and nominated members, seven ex-officio provincial chairpersons, and the party chair. This leaves 51 positions to be filled by Lamichhane's nomination.

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The chairman is actively holding discussions on the nominations. The process will not take long. He will consult party leaders before taking the final decision.

Similarly, the executive leadership remains incomplete. Of the 19 office-bearer positions, only seven were filled through election. The remaining 12 posts, including a senior leader, vice-chairperson, general secretary, spokesperson, treasurer, and their deputies, will be filled through nomination by the chair and endorsement by the central committee. There is an understanding to nominate Prime Minister Balendra Shah as a senior leader, but Lamichhane is still finalizing other executive appointments.

General secretary Bipin Acharya stated that nominations would be discussed at the next central committee meeting, with consultations ongoing. "The chairman is actively holding discussions on the nominations. The process will not take long. He will consult party leaders before taking the final decision," Acharya said. Joint general secretary Asim Shah added that Lamichhane would finalize both central committee and office-bearer appointments in close consultation with Prime Minister Balendra Shah.

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The party chair and the senior leader will